The Hindu : New Delhi News : TDB moots management of ‘prasadom’ counters by bank

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Saturday, Jun 28, 2008
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TDB moots management of ‘prasadom’ counters by bank

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

‘Aravana’ coupon sale through banks proposed

TDB to prepare ‘aravana’ offering
Interview for posts of priests completed

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is considering a proposal to manage the ‘prasadom’ counter at Sabarimala with the help of a scheduled bank.

Talking to The Hindu, TDB Commissioner V. Nalinakshan Nair said it was proposed to entrust the Dhanalakshmi Bank with the sale of coupons for ‘aravana,’ ‘appam’ and other ‘prasadom,’ as well as ‘Neyyabhishekom’ tickets during the annual pilgrim season. As per the proposal, the bank staff would manage the Devaswom cash counters at the ‘prasadom’ complex during the annual season.

The TDB Commissioner said the coupons for ‘aravana,’ ‘appam’ and other ‘prasadom’ would be made available at the cash counters attached to all branches of Dhanalakshmi Bank in order to avoid the long wait by the devotees before the devaswom counters at Sabarimala. This will also help streamline ‘prasadom’ distribution and the accounting procedures.

He said the proposed system would help the TDB in ensuring transparency and efficacy in the distribution of ‘prasadom.’ The TDB and the bank authorities have agreed in principle to implement the proposal and the modalities for the same would be chalked soon, he said.

The Devaswom Commissioner said the TDB would prepare the ‘aravana payasom’ on its own at Sabarimala during the forthcoming Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival. The board will deploy its staff in the preparation of ‘aravana.’ Repair and maintenance of the ‘aravana’ plant would be taken up soon to ensure that production is begun well before the annual pilgrim season and there is sufficient buffer stock.

He said the TDB would also explore the possibility of setting up one more modern ‘aravana’ preparation and packing unit at the Sannidhanam before the beginning of the pilgrim season.

The Commissioner said the Board had completed interview of candidates for appointment to the post of priests at various temples and the rank list would be published soon. The interview to fill 70 vacancies of temple priests was conducted by a four-member board comprising TDB president C.K.Gupthan, members P. Narayanan and P.K. Sumathykutty Amma and the Devaswom Commissioner.

The Board has also decided to recruit ‘panchavadyam,’ ‘nadaswarom’ and ‘thakil’ artistes from among those who have passed the three-year course in the respective category from the TDB-run Kshetra Kala Peetom.

He said the TDB was for reducing the number of hotels at Sabarimala during the annual pilgrim season by providing free food to devotees (‘annadanam’). Organisations and individuals can approach the TDB in this regard. The Board will provide them necessary facilities. Special Commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court M. Rajendran Nair has suggested that the TDB make three hotels at Sannidhanam available for conducting ‘annadanom’ during the annual pilgrim season.

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