Thiruvananthapuram: Following a six-year lull, the distribution of the traditional golden yellow coloured chandana (sandalwood) prasadam at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala resumed on Saturday.
The devotees can now adorn their foreheads with the same fragrance of the golden chandana as they used to earlier. The distribution of this golden-yellow coloured chandana prasadam was stopped citing possible health problems and the yellow colour was taken off when K N Satheesh was the Executive Officer of the Temple.
The tradition, that had been followed for many centuries from the times of Anizham Tirunaal Marthanda Varma, is being revived yet again from Saturday.
Also read: Historic Shiva temple of Pulwama in dilapidated condition
This is one of the first decisions from the new administration committee formed as per the directive of the Supreme Court. The distribution has been resumed after many tests, including that of the Food Safety department.
In the event, a devotee named Sree Ramayyan, who stood in front of the Ottakkal (Single stone) Mandapam at the East Nada of Padmanabha Swamy Temple, was given the Chandana prasadam thus marking the revival of the traditional golden chandana prasadam distribution. The members of the Travancore Royal family, the Temple Advisory Committee members and Executive Officer V Ratheeshan were present.
