Sakina Tashrifwala
Published on: 08 December 2022 at 18:43 IST
Following a ruling from the Kerala High Court, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is no longer able to block devotees from performing the ritual of ‘Pushpalankaram’ at Sabarimala Sannidhanam.
While the pillars and walls of Valiyambalam are covered in golden plates, the court ruled that the TDB could do “Pushpalankaram” on its own, in a moderate manner, using flowers permitted for “Pushpabhishekam” or for conducting poojas in Sabarimala Sannidhanam in accordance with “Paditharam,” in the places permitted by the thantri.
While concluding proceedings based on the report concerning the Vazhipadu item “Pushpalankaram” in Sabarimala Sannidhanam, the Devaswom Bench consisting of Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice P G Ajith Kumar made the order.
According to the Special Commissioner’s report, the devotee who pays for “Pushpalankaram” decorates the Sreekovil’s lower roof, the Valiyambalam in front of it, the entrance to Balikalpura, the base of the golden flag mast, the Upadevatha shrines, and other areas with decorative flowers of various colours and varieties, flower garlands, and the like. Pushpalankaram, the practise of arranging flower garlands without the use of nails, may one day be sanctioned as a more subdued alternative.