THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board will take a final decision on Saturday regarding the use of Oleander flowers (Arali Poo) in temples for rituals and offerings. The board held a preliminary discussion yesterday after it was found that the flowers and leaves of the saffron plant are poisonous and can even cause death.

Devotees and temple staff have expressed their concerns to the Devaswom Board on this issue. Earlier there were reports about the mysterious death of a young woman after biting the Arali Poo in Haripad. Board President P S Prashanth has ordered to submit an urgent report in this regard.

Arali flower is used in temples including Sabarimala. It is common for temples to use this flower in the offerings and food cuisines that come from the temple. Last day, Surya Surendran, a native of Haripad, collapsed and died at the Nedumbassery airport. The primary conclusion said the death as a result of chewing Arali in the mouth. The Forest Research Center had also found a problem in Arali. The effect of the poison depends on how much it enters the body.

Arali has already been avoided in some temples in the state. The Devaswom officials also highlighted the centuries-old tradition of Guruvayur temple that doesn’t use Arali flower in any temple rituals or offerings.