The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to effect a 30% hike in the rates of offerings (Vazhipadu) at the 1,550-odd temples under the Devaswom Board, except for the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple, TDB president P.S. Prasanth said here on Monday. Addressing the media, Mr. Prasanth clarified that the revision in the rate of offerings is on the basis of an order by the High Court, which allowed the Board to revise rates every five years.

The previous revision was made in 2016 and the Board didn’t go for the next periodic revision following the COVID-19 outbreak. There has been a significant increase in the cost of pooja items since last revision and the Board’s expense has also increased to ₹900 crore last year from around ₹350 crore in 2016, Mr. Prasanth said.

Against the recurring accidents involving unruly elephants and subsequent human causalities on temple premises, the Board has decided to seek the advice of the State government in bringing in curbs in the parade of elephants in the temples, the TDF chief said. The TDB is planning to rope in elephants only during the aarattu and pallivetta rituals associated with the festivals, and on normal days of festivals, the service of cars (chariot) will be used. 

A final call on this proposal would be taken only after in consultation with the priests at the temple. The high-octane sound producing Nashik dholls, laser light and DJ performances will be prohibited at events involving elephants, he said. In reply to a question on the debate over lifting the shirt ban at TDB temples, he said the present discussion is in the right direction,” he said.