Travancore Devaswom Board bans use of Arali flower in prasadam and nivedyam  

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board has banned the use of Arali flower in prasadam and nivedyam. The board took the action in the context of strong speculations that Arali flower is toxic.

Travancore Devaswom Board Chairman P S Prasanth said the decision was taken considering the concerns of the community. He also clarified that Arali flower will be used for pujas. The decision will come into effect from tomorrow.

A decision was taken to ban Arali flower after reports surfaced that Surya Surendran, a native of Haripad, died after chewing the leaf of Arali. A cow and a calf had died after eating the leaves and stems of the Arali plant.

The cow and the calf belonged to Vasudeva Kurup of Manju Bhavan in Thengamam. The cow and the calf had eaten the leaves of the plant cut off by their neighbour. They got weak following indigestion. Though vets gave them medicine, it did not have any effect.

Arali contains glycosides that affect the heart. All parts of the plant are toxic. In Ayurveda, the Arali flower is processed and detoxified to make certain oils. Yellow and pink Arali was earlier used in villages as a fence.