Aravana production resumes at Sabarimala

Aravana production at Sabarimala resumed on Wednesday (October 14) morning after a month-long shutdown for renovation and capacity expansion at the production plant.

According to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the unit will initially produce around 1.5 lakh tins a day, with output expected to rise to around 3.5 lakh tins daily after October 20. At full capacity, the plant can produce between 3.25 lakh and 3.65 lakh tins a day, the board said.

TDB president K. Jayakumar dismissed reports of a shortage of rice and other raw materials, asserting that adequate stocks were available and all arrangements had been made to ensure uninterrupted production.

“There is nothing to worry about. Everything is in place, and production has resumed. Around 4.5 lakh tins of Aravana will be available when the temple opens for the Thulam pooja. Production will continue on a large scale,” he said.

The Board’s assurance comes amid concerns that the shortage witnessed during the previous monthly pooja could recur during the upcoming five-day Thulamasa pooja. More than three lakh tins had been stocked for the previous monthly pooja, but supplies ran out by the third day as the turnout of devotees exceeded expectations.

The shortage triggered widespread protests among devotees and snowballed into a political controversy, with the Devaswom Minister openly criticising the Board leadership for failing to ensure adequate supplies. The dispute was eventually resolved following the intervention of the Chief Minister.

The Board is also racing to build up stocks ahead of the annual Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, which begins in November. It has set a target of maintaining a buffer stock of more than 50 lakh tins.

Aravana, a sweet offering made with rice, jaggery and ghee, is one of the Board’s major revenue sources, generating more than Rs.180 crore during the previous pilgrimage season.