Ponkunam: After a long gap, the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) outlet in Ponkunam reopened on Monday morning. Marking the occasion, a young man named Ranju offered dakshina to a staff member before buying the first bottle, celebrating the reopening in a traditional manner.

With holy ash (bhasma) smeared on his forehead, the man approached the counter, placed cash and areca nut on a betel leaf before making the purchase.

The outlet had remained closed for nearly a year due to technical reasons and finally resumed operations this week.

Locals who gathered expressed hope that the outlet wouldn’t shut down again.

During the closure, customers from Ponkunam had to travel to far-off places like Pala, Erumeli, and Pallickathodu to buy liquor, causing them considerable inconvenience.