Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala records Rs 320 crore revenue

The Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, which will witness an end to the ongoing pilgrimage season on January 20, has so far recorded revenue of more than Rs 310 crore, a marked increase from the previous highest amount of Rs 260 crore. The swelling coffers have resulted in the counting process overflowing into other parts of the temple as well.

Pathanamthitta: Ahead of the annual pilgrimage season set to end on Friday, the hill temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa in Kerala's Sabarimala has so far recorded an unforeseen revenue of more than Rs 310 crore. The amount, a significant leap from the previous high of Rs 260 crore recorded back in the 2018 season, comes after two years of COVID-induced closure. Speaking about the revenue, temple administration sources noted that the counting of coins worth around Rs 7 crore was pending and that 60 more people would be deputed to the same. The total donation count is expected to further climb close to Rs 330 crore.

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court on Thursday issued directives to the Travancore Devaswom Board's (TDB) vigilance wing to ascertain whether there existed any lapses in donation packs and currency notes counting and accordingly file a report. A two-judge bench of the HC ordered the same in the wake of reports citing currency notes turning soiled and unusable.

"Though counting of currency notes and packets containing offerings is going on at the new Bhandaram (coffer) and the old Bhandaram, it is anticipated that the counting of coins which are put in three large heaps in the new Bhandaram and will not be over even after the temple closes after Makaravilakku festival on January 20. Due to lack of space, counting of coins was being carried out in a portion of the Annadhana Mandapam also," it said.