Priority will given to ensure the quality of Appam, Aravana, and other Prasadoms at the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, K. Jayakumar, Chief Secretary and Chief Commissioner of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), has said.
An official statement issued here on Tuesday, said the Chief Secretary had convened a meeting of various officials at the TDB headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday to review the arrangements to be made for the smooth conduct of the forthcoming Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season.
Mr. Jayakumar said the TDB would purchase quality jaggery directly from various manufacturers outside Kerala in order ensure superior quality of the material. Tender would be invited to execute the scheme soon, he said.
Mr Jayakumar said steps would be taken to ensure that the materials purchased for Prasadom preparation at Sabarimala were of superior quality. He said the TDB would explore the possibility of mechanisation of the Appam preparation and vacuum packing after consulting the Food Safety Commissioner.
The laboratory facility for food and raw material testing at Sabarimala and Pampa would be streamlined in consultation with the Food Safety Commissioner, he said.
The meeting resolved to give top priority to sanitation and to start sanitation work a month ahead of the season. Mr Jayakumar said preparations for the selection of new Sabarimala Melsanthi, Malikappuram Melsanthi, priests at Pampa, and tender proceedings would begin soon.
He said the TDB would also explore the possibility of distributing Appam and Aravana through the counters of the Dhanalakshmi Bank.
The boundaries of various vehicle parking lots at Pampa, and Nilackal would be demarcated ahead of the season. The Chief Secretary will visit Sabarimala, Pampa, and Nilackal on Sunday. N. Vasu, Devaswom Commisioner. attended the meeting.
