PATHANAMTHITTA: A new fully automatic packing and sealing aravana unit was commissioned at Sabarimala. Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A Padmakumar inaugurated the plant at a function at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam. TDB member K P Sankaradas and Ravi Pillai, businessman from Kollam who sponsored ₹4 core for the plant was present on the occasion.

The plant manufactured by the Italian company, Celli Bellini, could fill and pack as many as 3.5-lakh cans of aravana daily, Sankaradas said. With this, the total aravana production capacity at Sabarimala has gone up to 4.2 lakh cans a day. Sankaradas said the TDB was exploring the possibility of automating the appam plant too.

N Vasu, Devaswom Commissioner; M. Manoj, Special Commissioner appointed by the Kerala High Court; Ajithkumar, executive engineer; V N Chandrashekharan, Devaswom executive officer; were present.

The five-day rituals in the Malayalam month of Kumbhom began at the temple in the morning. The Tantri, assisted by Melsanthi, performed a Kalabhapuja at the Namaskara Mandapm for the Kalabhabhishekom held in the forenoon. A Laksharchana will be performed on all days from Wednesday to Saturday. Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom will be held prior to the Utchapuja on all these days.

Padipuja, Ashtabhishekom, Pushpabhishekom and Udayasthamanapuja are the other special rituals. The monthly rituals will come to a close on Saturday evening.