Guruvayur: Parties are queuing up to secure the new ‘Thulabharam’ contract at the Guruvayur temple. The unprecedented demand is credited to the rising ‘Thulabharam’ income at the temple over the years. The daily average earnings at the temple in this category ranges between Rs 8-10 lakhs. The income tends to exceed Rs 20 lakhs during Sundays and other public holidays. 

It should be noted that the Devaswom earned a whopping Rs 25 lakhs daily by performing ‘Thulabharam’ in October last year. The earnings between March-December in the previous year stands at a whopping Rs 41 crores. As per the existing practice, new contracts are handed over in the month of March.

The matters relating to the ‘Thulabharam’ contracts at times turn out to be controversial. In the previous years, interested parties have offered amounts ranging between Rs 35 lakhs-Rs 52 lakhs to the Devaswom to secure the contracts. The contractors have their eyes fixed on the lump sum donations offered by the devotees during the ceremony.