‘Vazhipadu’ rates slashed at Sabarimala
P T Mohanan Pillai -

www.expressbuzz.com

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has slashed the vazhipadu rates at Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple, ranging from two to 10 times.

The two-day meeting of the Board, chaired by Chief Devaswom Commissioner K Jayakumar and attended by Devaswom Commissioner P V Nalinakshan Nair on October 28 and 29, took the decision for the massive cut in vazhipadu rates in the wake of widespread protests by various Hindu organisations and the ill-feeling among devotees, reliable Devaswom sources said.

The TDB decision, which needs the final clearance of the Devaswom Bench of the High Court, will be of great help for pilgrims to offer vazhipadus at cheaper rates during the forthcoming pilgrimage season.

NEW RATES

As per the revision, the rate of sahasrakalasam will come down to Rs 19,000 from Rs 1,10,000, the sources said. The rate for kalabhabhishekam will be reduced to Rs 2,000 from the present Rs 25,000. The revised tariff for pushpabhishekam will be Rs 1,500 as against Rs 25,000.

For Ganapathihomam, the new rate will be Rs 150 as against the present tariff of Rs 350. In the case of ashtabhishekam, the revised rate is Rs 1,500 as against Rs 3,500.

For laksharchana, the new rate will be Rs 3,000 as against Rs 50,000.

At Malikappuram Devi temple, the rate for Bhagavathiseva will be brought down to Rs 800 from Rs 3,000.

For pushpabhishekam and kalabhabhishekam rituals, devotees will have to bring flowers and sandalwood paste for offering vazhipadus on their own or will have to arrange the same through the Devaswom store at Sabarimala, sources said.