Commissioner of Travancore Devaswom Board N. Vasu has served a notice on Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu seeking explanation for closing the Ayyappa Temple for purification rites after the entry of two young women to the temple on January 2.
Addressing a press conference at Sabarimala on Sunday, Mr. Vasu said he issued the notice to the Tantri through Sabarimala executive officer D.Sudheeshkumar on the directions of the board. The Tantri has been asked to submit his explanation within 15 days.
Mr. Vasu said the Tantri was supposed to obtain the permission of the TDB, as it is the custodian of the temple, before closing the temple for purification rites.
According to him, the TDB was of the view that the Tantri had failed to follow the procedure in performing the purification rites. The board maintains that the Tantri performing purification rites in the wake of the entry of women to the Ayyappa temple especially against the backdrop of the Supreme Court verdict is not justifiable, he said.
Mr. Vasu said the TDB, being the owner of the Sabarimala temple, had every right to remove the Tantri, though the latter was not an employee of the board.
TDB member N. Vijayakumar said neither the TDB nor the government had stated that all women should visit Sabarimala. He said the government stand was that women who reach Sabarimala would be provided protection, he said. He said the board was concerned only about the smooth conduct of the pilgrim season and to provide necessary basic facilities to the pilgrims visiting Sabarimala. Mr Vasu said the police was supposed to maintain law and order and the TDB has nothing to do with it.
Revenue collection
Mr. Vasu said revenue collection at Sabarimala had showed marked improvement from the beginning of the ongoing Makaravilaku pilgrim season that began on December 30, despite the negative publicity unleashed by certain quarters against Sabarimala.
According to him, the total revenue collection at Sabarimala from December 30 to January 5 has been put at ₹20,49,72,188. This is against the revenue collection of ₹29,64,41,288 during the same period of the previous pilgrim season. Mr. Vasu said ‘aravana’ sales accounted for revenue of ₹10,39,63,350 during the period.
Heavy rush
Sabarimala continued to witness heavy rush on Sunday too.
A total of 72,200 pilgrims crossed the door-framed metal detectors kept at Pampa at the entry point to the Sabarimala trekking path till 6 p.m. on Sunday.
