The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham (ABASS) has began its free distribution facility on the north nada here by offering food thrice a day, covering about 15,000 pilgrims a day.
ABASS general secretary N Velayudhan Nair and free food coordination committee convener Thrichy Sreedhar said that the food facility would be available between 7 am and 10 am, meals between 1 noon to 3 pm and evening facility would be available from 7 pm to 10 pm. Steps were taken to ensure quality food items and the ingredients for the food preparations are brought from various ABAAS units from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Palakkad in Tamil Nadu, Thrichy Sridhar said. In the case of vegetables, Mettuppalayam and Ootty units are the main sources, he said.
Adequate stocks of rice and pulses are in the storage rooms of the ABASS at Sannidhanam and Pampa,Sreedhar said. Round-the-clock Service Velayudhan Nair said pilgrims will be given free food round-the-clock during the peak days of Mandalam and Makaravilakku seasons. Instructions were given to the Tamil Nadu and Karanataka units to collect adequate quantity of food ingredients like rice, pulses and vegetables for meeting the need during the peak days of the pilgrimage season, Velayudhan Nair said.
Inaugural Function Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar inaugurated the anual free food facility by distributing food to the pilgrims at the ABASS hall on Saturday. Travancore Devaswom president M P Govindan Nair, member Subhash Vasu, Devaswom Commissioner P Venugopal and Sabarimala Devaswom executive officer Mohandas were present on the occasion.
ABASS national treasurer Mohan K Nair welcomed the gathering and free food facility convener Thrichy Sreedhar proposed a vote of thanks. At Pampa, the ABASS began free food distribution from November 16. ABASS president Thennala Balakrishna Pillai lighted the traditional lamp, marking the beginning of the free food facility, Velayudhan Nair said.
The ABASS will begin its service facilities at Nilackal pilgrim transit camp next week, he said