Sabarimala aravana shortage: Keralam Devaswom Minister says will

Keralam Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan has ordered a dedicated ADM to gather details from Sabarimala on raw-material stocks for prasadam, after claims of shortages when the temple was recently open.

Minister links action to devotees’ interests

Mr. Muraleedharan on Thursday said he would take an “aggressive stand” against the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in situations where devotees’ interests are affected.

He cited the shortage of aravana prasadam when the Sabarimala temple was open recently as the context for his warning.

Speaking to reporters, the Minister said he had appointed a dedicated ADM for Sabarimala.

He said the ADM would go to Sabarimala to collect all details regarding the stock of raw materials used in making prasadam.

The raw materials he referred to included jaggery and coconut oil.

Mr. Muraleedharan said the step was being taken following claims of shortage in raw materials.

He said the government would take further steps based on the ADM’s report.

“Where an aggressive stand is required to be taken, I will take it,” the Minister said.

“I will not allow anyone to play around with devotees. If aravana and appam are not provided properly to devotees then an aggressive stand will have to be taken,” he said.

The statement matters because the Minister directly linked government intervention to the availability of aravana and appam for devotees at Sabarimala.

Satheesan visit during ‘Thula maasam’

Mr. Muraleedharan also said that Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan had not told him not to take an aggressive stand.

He said Mr. Satheesan would visit Sabarimala during the ‘Thula maasam’.

According to the Minister, the ‘Thula maasam’ begins on October 18, 2026 and ends on November 16, 2026.

BJP targets UDF government

Meanwhile, BJP Keralam president Rajeev Chandrasekhar accused the Congress-led UDF government of not doing anything for Sabarimala devotees.

He also accused the government of being engaged in a row with the TDB over the temple’s functioning.

Mr. Chandrasekhar said that during the Assembly poll campaign, the Congress-led UDF had “heavily campaigned” using Lord Ayyappa’s name.

“But they are not doing anything now for Sabarimala devotees. They are only engaged in a row with the Devaswom board,” he said.

His criticism placed the prasadam and temple-functioning issues in the wider political dispute involving the UDF government, the TDB and the BJP’s state leadership.

Minister responds on gold crown report

Mr. Muraleedharan also responded to reports of a gold crown going missing from Sabarimala.

He said TDB president K. Jayakumar had claimed that the gold crown is present in the temple.

The Minister did not state it as his own finding, but referred to the claim made by the TDB president.

Medicines stock issue

Mr. Muraleedharan also addressed the issue of medicines availability at government hospitals.

He rejected allegations that sufficient stock of anti-rabies vaccine is not available.

He said there is sufficient stock of anti-rabies vaccine and other essential medicines in government hospitals.

He also said hospitals have been permitted to buy any medicine in short supply through ready stock purchase.

The report was published on September 24, 2026 at 04:25 pm IST.

Source: The Hindu