If you are going to visit Sabarimala in Kerala, then there is some relief news for you. Pilgrims going to Sabarimala temple will be able to carry coconut in their cabin baggage on flights till January 20, 2025. The aviation security monitoring agency Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has permitted for this for a limited period. According to PTI news, under the current rules, coconut is not allowed in cabin baggage due to being flammable. A senior official of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) gave this information on Friday.
Coconuts can be taken only after inspection.
According to the news, one thing to understand here is that coconuts will be allowed to be taken in the cabin only after the necessary X-ray, ETD (Explosive Trace Detector), and physical examination. The Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala will open for a two-month-long pilgrimage season in mid-November and the pilgrimage season will continue till the end of January. Every year lakhs of devotees visit the hill temple and most of them carry with them ‘Irumudi Kettu’ (offerings made to the Lord, which includes coconuts filled with ghee).
‘Irumudi Kettu’ is prepared.
Usually, people who visit Sabarimala prepare and pack ‘Irumudi Kettu’ as part of the ‘Kettunirakal’ ritual. During the ritual, ghee is filled inside the coconut, which is then kept in a bag along with other offerings. The bag also contains some ordinary coconuts to be broken at various holy places during the pilgrimage. Only pilgrims carrying ‘Irumudi Kettu’ on their heads are allowed to climb the 18 holy steps to reach the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Those who do not carry it have to take a different route to reach the sanctum sanctorum.