File photo of the Sabrimala Temple
The Sabarimala shrine, whose new pilgrimage season starts Nov 17, will produce a record 14 million cans of 'prasad'.
Situated on the Western Ghats at an altitude of 914 metres above sea level, the Sabarimala temple in Pathanamthitta district lies around 100 km from Sabrimala. It is accessible only on foot from Pamba.
Even though the temple is now open on the first few days every month of the Malayalam calendar, the peak pilgrimage season begins on the first day of the Malayalam month in November. This year, this falls Nov 17.
Temple executive officer V.S. Jayakumar said the production of prasadam, called aravana, will commence Oct 27.
"This season we expect to produce a record 14 million (250 ml) cans of aravana. When the temple opens for this festival season, we will have with us close to three million cans of aravana ready," Jayakumar told IANS.
The main ingredients of the aravana are rice, ghee, jaggery and spices.
Pilgrims can book the prasad in advance online or at all branches of Dhanalaksmi Bank or through coupons from temples run by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
"This is to avoid the rush once they come to Sabarimala, where they can collect their prasadam," Jayakumar said.
He said the production of appam, (another prasadam) will begin only Nov 12 because it has a shelf life of just two weeks.
"This time we plan to make a record 7.5 million appams. We will have two kits. One will include two packets of appam and one can of aravana besides a packet each of sandalwood paste and vibhuthi for Rs.160. For Rs.270 one gets an additional can of aravana and two additional packets of appam," added Jayakumar.