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Travancore Devaswom Restricts Aravana Sales as Shortage Hits

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 4:26 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Travancore Board Restricts Aravana

Travancore Devaswom Board restricted Aravana sales, sparking protests at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.
The Aravana plant at Sannidhanam remained closed for maintenance, causing the shortage.
Buffer stock fell from 3.25 lakh tins to 25,000 tins by September 19, 2026.
An official said pilgrim inflow rose 30-40% compared with the same period last year.
The board aims to finish renovation by the second week of October and create a 55-lakh-tin buffer.

Summary

Muralidharan Criticises Renovation

Health Minister K Muralidharan publicly criticised the Aravana plant renovation timing during peak pilgrim visits.
He warned that such work is normally done when the temple is closed, not while devotees are present.
Muralidharan said the state cannot directly intervene with the autonomous Devaswom Board, only through courts.
He asserted that both the Devaswom Department minister and the government share responsibility for devotees’ hardships.

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Travancore Board Restricts Aravana

Travancore Devaswom Board restricted Aravana sales, sparking protests at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.
The Aravana plant at Sannidhanam remained closed for maintenance, causing the shortage.
Buffer stock fell from 3.25 lakh tins to 25,000 tins by September 19, 2026.
An official said pilgrim inflow rose 30-40% compared with the same period last year.
The board aims to finish renovation by the second week of October and create a 55-lakh-tin buffer.

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