On day one in Sabarimala, revenue saw Rs 1.28 crore increase

SANNIDHANAM: With a trouble-free pilgrimage at Sabarimala Sri Ayyappa Temple so far this year, the revenue of Travancore devaswom board (TDB) has increased considerably compared to last year, when TDB suffered huge financial setback after the women entry controversy marred the pilgrimage season.
The TDB president, N Vasu, on Monday said that the revenue on the opening day of the season was Rs 3.32 crore compared to Rs 2.04 crore received on the same day previous year, marking an increase of Rs 1.28crore.
The revenue from bhandarams (hundi) witnessed an increase of nearly Rs 25 lakh on day one with a total of over Rs 1.1 crore. As the revenue in 2018 was significantly low, the board is comparing the figures with that of the 2017 season. TDB officials said that the revenue was expected to increase in the coming days. The temple opened for the annual 41-day pilgrimage on Saturday.
“The revenue increased by more than 50% compared to last year. In 2018 and 2017, the total revenue on first day were Rs 2.04 crore and Rs 4.34 crore, respectively. We can see a steady flow of pilgrims over the past three days and all the devotees are ensured a peaceful darshan. This is expected to continue in the coming days. We are doing everything possible for the comfort of the devotees,” Vasu said.
The revenues from hundi till Sunday night was Rs 1,00,10,900. In 2018, it was Rs 75,88,950 and in 2017, it was Rs 75,85,185. Through contract bids, TDB recorded a revenue of Rs 1.48 crore compared to the Rs 2.84 crore. The donations to annadanam fund on the first day too were significantly high compared to previous years. It amounted to Rs 5,10,320 this year while it was Rs 68,987 in 2018 and Rs 3,60,879 in 2017.
Revenue from appam sales stood at Rs 13,98,110 on the opening day compared to the Rs 5,82,715 in 2018 and Rs 11,00,295 in 2017. Though the appam sales witnessed an increase compared to last two years, aravana sales was slightly lower than in 2017. The revenue from aravana sales on the first day was Rs 1,19,50,050 compared to Rs 72,45,070 in 2018 and Rs 1,26,21,280.
Officials said that devotees from others states were hesitant to buy aravana tins in bulk quantity due to restrictions in bringing vehicles to Pamba. “The restrictions on vehicle entry till Pamba are likely to be removed in the coming days. We expect the aravana sale to improve after that,” said a devaswom official.
Vasu said that the annadanam mess facility could provide free food to 40,000 people daily. “There is sufficient stock of appam and aravana stocks to meet the requirements of the increasing crowd. Though the import of jaggery from Maharashtra was affected due to heavy rains there, arrangements have been made to procure it locally. Also, to curb use of plastic, TDB has been conducting awareness campaigns in various South Indian states against bringing plastic bags to Sabarimala,” Vasu said.