Sabarimala Ghee Quality Under Scrutiny

Travancore Dewaswom Board has been directed to ensure the quality of ghee used by devotees for preparing appam and aravana at Sabarimala. Minister K. Muraleedharan emphasized the need for stringent checks on the large quantities of ghee contributed by thousands of pilgrims. This ghee is collected into storage tanks, and samples will now be regularly tested.

To facilitate these checks, laboratories operated by the Health, Food Safety, and Forensic Medicine departments will be established at hospitals in Sannidhanam and Pampa. These facilities will test for adulteration, contamination, and toxicity in the ghee. The minister stressed that these labs must be operational before the Mandala and Makaravilakku pilgrimage season commences.

Mr. Muraleedharan urged the Travancore Dewaswom Board to allocate necessary funds for equipment and infrastructure, including electricity and water. He underscored that ensuring the health and safety of devotees during the pilgrimage is a shared responsibility between the state government and the TDB, highlighting the importance of immediate action.