Sabarimala | Photo: PTI
Pathanamthitta: Sabarimala Thiruvabharanam Commissioner pointed out lapses in entrusting 180 sovereigns of gold ornaments received as offerings at the strong room in Aranmula. The commissioner’s report noted that the gold, received as offerings from December 27, 2022 to January 19, 2023 in the Lord Ayyappa temple, was not brought to the strong room on time.
As per rules, the gold and silver have to be submitted in the strong room within a week after the shrine closes following the Mandalam puja. Though the hill shrine was closed on January 20, it took more than a month to bring the gold to the strong room this time.
According to the officials, the ornaments were stored in Sabarimala itself.
Another instance of grave lapse surfaced when the officer, who was in charge of the strong room, got a transfer and handed over charge without conducting an audit.
The register noted that the temple received a total of 410 sovereigns of gold during the last Mandalam season.