SABARIMALA: The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham (ABASS) has launched the free food facility at Karimala, the important pilgrim transit camp along the traditional forest path between Erumely-Pampa-Valiayanavattom.
The free food facility, run by the 87-year- Gurumurthi Chettiar of Salem and a 15-member team, offers 12-hour non-sto free food distribution to the pilgrims. The ingredients for the free food supply in two-truck loads from Salem collected by Gurumurthi Chettiar reached Karimala camp after being transported to Pampa and from there, carried on head by workers hired for the purpose. “To offer free food to the pilgrims for the last 23 years is a privilege given by Lord Ayyappa,” Gurumurthi Chettiar said.
“ I will continue in the service as long I can reach out to Karimala hills”, says the devotee of Lord Ayyappa. The camp offers medicated drinking water and resting place for a few hundreds pilgrims.