Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Sabarimala Increases Aravana Production Ahead of Pilgrimage Season
The Sabarimala temple expects many pilgrims during the season beginning in November.
To meet demand, officials will make 100,000 more tins of aravana prasadam each day.
Production will increase from 260,000 tins to 360,000 tins daily.
Officials also want to have 7.5 million tins ready before the temple opens.
New AI cameras may help manage crowds at Nilakkal.
A waiting area there will have seats for 6,000 pilgrims.
The planned crowd-control project is expected to cost about Rs 5 crore.
Officials also said reports about a missing gold crown were incorrect.
They said the crown is safely stored in a strong room at Sannidhanam.
The Travancore Devaswom Board will raise daily aravana production from 2.6 lakh to 3.6 lakh tins.
The increased production will follow Food Safety and Standards Authority of India norms.
The board plans to stock 75 lakh tins before the pilgrimage season begins in November.
AI-enabled cameras and a control room are planned at Nilakkal to regulate pilgrim movement.
The board denied reports that a 55-sovereign gold crown had disappeared, saying it is secured in the strong room.
- Who
- The Travancore Devaswom Board, led by president K. Jayakumar, announced the measures.
- What
- The board will increase aravana production, prepare crowd-monitoring systems, and address reports about a gold crown.
- When
- The announcement was made on Thursday; the pilgrimage season begins in November.
- Where
- The production increase will take place at Sannidhanam, while the crowd-management system is planned for Nilakkal.
- Why
- The production increase is intended to meet expected demand, while the Nilakkal measures are intended to support smoother pilgrim movement.
Reports and Concerns
Board's Response
Gold crown's whereabouts
Reports and Concerns
Reports alleged that a 55-sovereign gold crown at Sabarimala had disappeared.
Board's Response
The Travancore Devaswom Board and the Thiruvabharanam Commissioner said the crown was safely kept in the strong room at Sannidhanam.
- Current daily production
- 2.6 lakh tins of aravana
- Planned daily production
- 3.6 lakh tins
- Pre-season stock target
- 75 lakh tins
- AI monitoring location
- Nilakkal
- Estimated monitoring project cost
- Around Rs 5 crore
- Waiting pandal capacity
- 6,000 pilgrims
- Gold crown
- A 55-sovereign crown reported by the board to be safe in the Sannidhanam strong room