Thiruvananthapuram | Differences have emerged between TDB president K Jayakumar and Kerala Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan over serving Onam sadya (feast) to devotees at Sabarimala, with the former on Thursday saying the traditional spread was served while the minister claimed that devotees were instead given pulao.

During the three days of Onam celebrations, voluntary organisations at Sabarimala follow the tradition of serving sadya to devotees.

Recently, reports emerged that sadya was served to officials and police personnel on Thiruvonam day while pulao was served to devotees.

Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president Jayakumar denied the reports, saying sadya was served to around 3,000 people.

Muraleedharan, however, claimed that only pulao was served to devotees while officials were given sadya.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Jayakumar said it was incorrect to describe the incident as a major failure.

"Describing this as an incident where a major failure occurred is contrary to truth; I can say that with full authority. Many people have misled many. He (the minister) has received an incorrect report. We can explain the details about what happened. Other than that, I don't feel any failure has occurred," he said.

Jayakumar said the police did not conduct the sadya as they usually did it voluntarily.

"But why didn't the police conduct the sadya? Because we cannot force them; they conduct it voluntarily. The Melshanthi (Chief Priest) did not show interest. It is under those circumstances that we took it up," he said.

When reporters pointed out Jayakumar's statement to Muraleedharan, the minister said several people had brought the matter to his attention along with photographs.

"Moreover, why break a tradition that has been followed for years? The Devaswom Board can make claims, but that wasn't how it was done," he said.

"The sadya was restricted only to Thiruvonam day. Secondly, two different types of food were seen being served. They even showed me photos of yellow curry poured over rice, calling it 'pulao'. Isn't that wrong? Is that how an Onam sadya should be served," he said.

Traditions should be followed and carried forward.

"Sadya on Uthradam, Thiruvonam, and Avittom days—these have always been customary. What was gained by stopping it. So, our point is that the Devaswom Board must correct this," Muraleedharan said.

Later in the day, Jayakumar said there was some truth in Muraleedharan's statement that pulao was served to devotees at Sabarimala on Thiruvonam day.

He said sadya was organised at the mess for staff, while pulao was served at the hall where Annadanam (free meal service) was conducted.

"However, since the sadya was taking place, in order to serve it to a few more people, we brought in 3,000 people from those who came to eat pulao and served them the sadya. I am not saying pulao was not served. On that day, the Annadanam was not made into a sadya except in the mess. It was served only in the mess," he said.

Jayakumar said the minister was right in saying that pulao was served.

"Those who needed pulao ate pulao. Those who wanted sadya ate it," he said.

When told that people who went to eat sadya did not get it, Jayakumar said that might be true.

"I am not denying that. Usually, every year, there is no practice of serving sadya at the Annadanam location. There is only the sadya organised by the employees. The only difference this time is that we conducted it directly; nothing else happened there," he said.

He said the sadya organised by the police and the chief priest as part of Onam did not take place this year.

"So there has been a reduction in the number of sadyas. That is the only thing that happened. The only issue that occurred is that this time we organised and served the employees' sadya on behalf of the employees," he said.

Now, sadya will be organised daily from November when the Sabarimala pilgrimage season starts.

"From November onwards, it is sadya anyway, right? Every day, the Annadanam itself is a sadya. If any mistake has occurred in this, we will make amends by conducting the Annadanam. From November 15 onwards, it is full Annadanam, served even with payasam," he said.

Asked about rumours that he might resign midway through his tenure, Jayakumar dismissed it as a hypothetical question.

"Aren't those hypothetical questions? Those are imaginary questions," he said.