Sabarimala Ditches Sponsors for Own Thiruvonam Feast

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has announced it will directly organize the Thiruvonam feast at Sabarimala this year. This marks a significant departure from the board's previous practice of relying on external sponsors for the event. Preparations are now complete to ensure that every devotee reaching the Sannidhanam on Thiruvonam day will be served the traditional feast.

The TDB's decision to manage the feast independently stems from a broader effort to cease sponsor-funded arrangements. This move aims to do away with the traditional sponsorships and fundraising drives that have been associated with the feast. The board's push away from sponsor dependency gained momentum after events like the Global Ayyappa Sangamam faced scrutiny from the Kerala High Court concerning their funding.