THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For millions touring God’s Own Country, the quintessential Kerala souvenir would be the Aranmula metal mirror, ‘kasavu’ saree, traditional lamp, handicrafts, or other ethnic knick-knacks. But for lakhs of pilgrims making the divine trek to the hill shrine at Sabrimala from other states, the salubrious coconut oil seems to be the coveted gift.
During the past several years, oil traders are doing brisk business during the three-month-long mandalam-makaravilakku season. With the onset of the season, shops ranging from petty shops to bakeries and hotels near the railway stations in Central Kerala are stacked with oil bottles.
Shops near transit camps like Guruvayoor, Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple and several shrines in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta too are raking in the moolah. “Pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are our main customers. They do not use it for cooking but as hair oil or for massaging,” said Raju a shopkeeper near the Kottayam railway station.
According to Aditya Rao, a pilgrim hailing from Visakhapatanam, said oil sold in Kerala was fresh and has a unique fragrance. “There are several brands available in our local market. But none of the products offer this much purity,” he said.
The state-run Kerafed produces an additional 100 tonnes during the mandalam season, said its managing director M A Francis.
“Ours is a government agency and people buy our products without the fear of adulteration. The average collection in our stall at Pampa is Rs 25,000. Dealers in pilgrims’ transit locations like Pandalam, Chengannur and Kottayam too are doing brisk business,” he said. KPL Shudhi, a popular brand, witness 200 per cent increase in sales during the mandalam season, said its marketing manager Rajan P Menon. “It would have been bigger if not for the demonetisation. Pilgrims have cut short the quantity owing to currency shortage,” he said. One and two litre bottles and handy five kg cans are the most sold types during the pilgrimage season, he said.
Sebin, marketing in-charge of KLF Nirmal, another popular brand, said their dealers in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki are making a killing compared to other businesses with the sheer volume of sales.