Sabarimala: fall in pilgrim flow, and revenue

Sabarimala: The continuing crisis in Sabarimala, the worst in its long history, slimmed the pilgrim flow on weekend unlike previous festival season, hitting revenue too.

Restrictions imposed on pilgrim movement at Nilackal, Pampa and Sabarimala for security reasons dried up what otherwise would have been an avalanche of pilgrims.

So is the case with revenue flow, reports say.

Digital monitors installed at the marquee recorded pilgrims from the opening day as 45,253 person till 8 pm on Friday, according to The Hindu.

The holy steps also wore a deserted look as the temple opened at 3.am on Sunday.

In previous seasons, thronging pilgrims stood for hours in barricades in Lower Tirumuttom before they had Dershan.

Since season started off, there has been a distinct dip in the sale of Aravana prasadom. Only 82,000 tins of Aravana had been shifted on the first day of this season against 1,32,000 tins last season.

Due to fall in demand for Appam, Travancore Devaswom Board(TDB) has reportedly cut its production.

Sources said that TDB has readied a buffer stock of 30-lakh cans of Aravana; also, the board is mulling over opening Appam-Aravana counters at Pampa, and Nilackal shortly.