TDB under fire as Sabarimala pilgrimage readiness faces delays

Heavy traffic block witnessed on the Nilackal-Pampa route when the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple was opened for the monthly puja recently. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO

The delay in key preparatory works ahead of the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season has drawn sharp criticism from Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) employees, who have held the leadership responsible for the lapses.

the Travancore Devaswom Employees Front, a Congress-backed employees’ union, has now come up flagging delays in completing essential infrastructure works and warned that inadequate preparations could disrupt the pilgrimage season.

“The Chief Minister had directed that the roads leading to the parking grounds be tarred and made motorable during his visit to Nilakkal. However, several stretches remain muddy even now. Essential repair works have also not been completed on time. The new construction work at the aravana plant, which was scheduled for completion during the previous monthly pooja, remains unfinished,” the union said in a statement.

Ghee shortage

More worrying is the dwindling stock of ghee required for aravana production, even as the tender process for procuring additional supplies from outside remains incomplete. Any delay in securing ghee could seriously affect production and distribution of the offering during the pilgrimage season, the union warned.

It held the Board president and administrative committee responsible for any disruption in aravana production, ghee supply, appam availability, transport facilities, sanitation or food arrangements for employees. The union also warned against attempts to shift the blame for administrative failures onto employees.”Employees working sincerely despite limited facilities should not be made scapegoats for the Board’s failure to make adequate preparations,” it said.

Besides the employees’ union, several other organisations, including the Akhil Bharata Ayyappa Seva Sanghom, have also expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of preparatory works at Sabarimala.

The board, meanwhile, acknowledged that some works had fallen behind schedule but maintained that they could be completed before the season begins. Its officials also alleged that the Congress-backed union was attempting to pre-empt criticism of its own leadership in the event of any lapses during the pilgrimage season.

‘Situation under control’

The delay in upgrading the aravana plant was one of the major setbacks, a Board official admitted. ”One of the major lapses was on the part of the Devaswom PWD, which delayed the upgradation of the aravana plant by around 15 days. However, the situation is under control, as production of three lakh tins of aravana began on Monday,” the official said.

Even as the board sought to allay concerns over production, the distribution of the offering remains another potential trouble spot. Officials fear that poor internet connectivity at Sannidhanam and possible software glitches could disrupt transactions at the counters. ”As many as 19 counters will operate at Sannidhanam to distribute the offerings, all equipped with an integrated payment system. However, there are serious doubts about whether this arrangement can be sustained smoothly in the long run,” the official added.

Published - November 11, 2026 06:48 pm IST