PATHANAMTHITTA: Preparation of the Sabarimala Aravana began at the modern preparation unit attached to the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala Sannidhanam on Friday.

According to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) authorities, Sabarimala Melsanthi V. Muraleedharan Namboodiri lighted a ceremonial lamp at the unit to mark the beginning of the `prasadom' preparation.

The production of `appam' would begin at the TDB unit on Saturday.

The TDB authorities said that the board would stock not less than four-lakh containers (250 gram each) of Aravana by November 15 afternoon when the Ayyappa Temple opens for the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season.

A total of 66-lakh containers of Aravana had been sold during the previous pilgrim season.

This year, the TDB expects a sale of not less than 70-lakh containers of Aravana, the sources said.

A total of 20-lakh eco-friendly cans with flip lids and 10 lorry loads (10,000 kg) of jaggery along with sufficient spices and other ingredients for the Aravana preparation had been stocked at the TDB godown.

The Aravana production at the mechanised plant is expected to be one-lakh containers on a daily basis.

A total of 160 lorry loads (approximately 16-lakh kg) of jaggery is required for the preparation of 70-lakh containers of Aravana, according to Devaswom sources.

Meanwhile, the contractors have brought 360 pack-donkeys to Pampa from Kambom-Teni areas in Tamil Nadu on Friday for transportation of the prasadom materials, mainly jaggery and rice, from Pampa to Sannidhanam.

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