THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Devotees at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple can now get ‘paal payasam’ without any hassle. The temple management has launched over-the-counter sales of ‘paal payasam’ and ‘unniyappam’, the sweet delicacies considered to be the favourites of Lord Sree Padmanabhaswamy.
Earlier, sale of the delicacies was restricted to those making advance bookings. Sunday onwards, they are available at the ‘prasadam’ counters at the four gates of the temple complex.
The temple officials said the initiative was well received by the devotees with the ‘vazhipadu’ packets getting sold out fully on Sunday and Monday. About 10 litres of the payasam was sold out each day.
The 250 ml payasam is priced at `50 and five units of unniyappam are priced at `30. Paal payasam will be available at the counters from 8.30 am to 1 pm and unniyappam from 8.30 am to 8 pm.
The temple officials said the delicacies sold are ‘naivedyams’, that is they are offered to the lord first.
The food offerings are made before the lord during the ‘thrikala pooja’ in the forenoon and ‘athazha pooja’ in the evening.
Daily offerings to the deity include a slew of delicacies, including ‘ottayada’, ‘valsan’ and ‘aval naivedyam’. These delicacies are currently unavailable at the counters.The temple has been witnessing a heavy rush since the start of the ‘mandalam-makaravilakku’ pilgrimage season. A special darsan facility is now being offered between 4 pm and 5 pm for Sabarimala pilgrims.For speedy darsan, devotees can take tickets worth `50, `200 and `250. Devotees who buy `200 and `250 tickets will get a bottle of ‘aravana’ free of cost.The over-the-counter sale was inaugurated by temple administration committee chairman and District Judge K Haripal on Sunday in the presence of executive officer V Ratheesan.