Sabarimala aravana production to resume tomorrow, rice supply still a concern

PATHANAMTHITTA: The production of Aravana at Sabarimala will resume tomorrow following the completion of repairs to the production plant. Plans are in place to later increase the plant's production capacity. Initially, production will focus on building up stock for the upcoming Thulam month poojas and the Mandala pilgrimage season. The Aravana plant, storage facilities, and godown have all been sanitised.

After the Chingam month poojas, only 1,026 kg (27 sacks) of raw rice remained for Aravana production. Concerned that this shortage could lead to a crisis, the Travancore Devaswom Board instructed the previous contractor to deliver an additional 15,000 kg of rice to Pampa. This rice delivery, which arrived today, is enough to produce 421,000 tins of Aravana. Last year, nearly 600,000 tins were sold during the pilgrimage season, and this year's demand is anticipated to be higher.

Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar assured the Chief Minister and the Devaswom Minister that 7.5 million tins of Aravana would be produced as a reserve stock before the pilgrimage season. Meeting this target will depend on rice supplies under the new contract. Although a tender was issued for the supply, the new contractor has been unable to deliver the rice because the Devaswom Board has not yet signed the agreement.

If the necessary formalities are not completed quickly and rice supply does not begin soon, Aravana production may face another crisis.

Tomorrow, Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar and Devaswom Commissioner B. Sunil Kumar will visit Sannidhanam to review the preparations for the pilgrimage season and to assess the available supplies needed for Aravana production.