Old aravana in Sabarimala temple likely to be used to make fertilizers

SABARIMALA: 6.65 lakh tins of Aravana in Sabarimala may be converted into fertilizer after the High Court stopped its sale due to the presence of pesticides in cardamom used for its preparation. Aravana containers have been stored in the Malikappuram godown for over a year.

The previous day's Devaswom Board meeting decided to invite tenders for scientific disposal of Aravana. The tender process will be completed within a week. Agencies should specify in advance how waste will be disposed of and subsequent action will be based on this. Most of the agencies that have expressed their interest in participating in the tender have informed that they will use Aravana to make fertilizer.

Aravana tins are not allowed to be carried beyond Nilakkal in the same form. This is to prevent Aravana from being sold outside Sabarimala. There is a concern that wild animals including elephants will smell the jaggery if the containers are opened and separated at Sabarimala. Due to this, the idea is to bring the containers to Pampa by tractor and from there to the Nilakkal godown. Earlier plans were to bury Aravana in Sannidhanam itself. But the forest department did not give permission for it.