The Hindu : National : Long queues at Sabarimala temple for Neyyabhishekom

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Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007
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Long queues at Sabarimala temple for Neyyabhishekom

Staff Reporter

Devotees waiting to offer Neyyabhishekom at Sabarimala on Monday.

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has taken steps to check any ‘backdoor operation’ for offering Neyyabhishekom at the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala.

Devaswom executive officer B. Unniksihnan said on Monday that the practice of pilgrims directly approaching the Tantri, Melshanti and other priests at their camp offices on the temple premises had been stopped. Devotees who have to offer Neyyabhishekom should take a ticket for Rs.5 and stand in queue.

There were allegations of priests collecting money in the name of ‘special Neyyabhishekom.’

Devaswom guards have been posted at the camp offices of the Tantri and Melshanti.

Pilgrims had to wait four to six hours in serpentine queues for performing Neyyabhishekom to the presiding deity on Monday.

However, they welcomed the decision to stop the ‘dual system’ for Neyyabhishekom, saying that Sabarimala was a place where all devotees were supposed to get equal treatment.

Shortage of eco-friendly cans and flip-lids had forced the TDB to regulate the sale of Aravana to four cans a person from Monday, according to the executive officer.

The decision to regulate Aravana sale, from 10 cans to four cans a person, is aimed at providing the prasadom to all those who stand in the queue before the prasadom counters, he said

A consignment of cans and lids are expected to reach Sabarimala in the next twenty-four hours.

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