Thiruvananthapuram | TDB President K Jayakumar on Friday denied reports that traditional Thiruvonasadya was not served to devotees who reached Sabarimala temple on Thiruvonam day.
Speaking to reporters, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president Jayakumar said the propaganda that the Thiruvonasadya (feast) at Sabarimala was disrupted on Thiruvonam day was false.
"This time, the feast was provided without collecting any funds. Many tried to portray it in a negative light. The sadya was served to 3,000 persons," he said.
He urged people not to spread false information.
"The most joyful thing is that the feast was served most beautifully to the staff and devotees who arrived there on Thiruvonam day. It gives great happiness because it was provided without collecting money or relying on sponsors, entirely at the expense of the Devaswom Board," he said.
Jayakumar said the feast was also served to pilgrims so that nobody visiting the hill shrine would go without food.
"When the feast takes place here, others should not go without food, which is why it was served to the pilgrims as well," he said.
He said several people had called him to appreciate the initiative.
There were reports that the sadya at Sabarimala was limited to TDB staff and police personnel, while devotees were served only pulao.
The Sabarimala temple will close at 10 pm on Friday, marking the conclusion of the Onam rituals.
