Appam and Aravana in reserve for Makara Vilakku festival

With only few days remaining for the Makara Vilakku, a great deal of preparation is going on under the direction of the Devaswom Board. The offerings, such as Appam and Aravana, will be made available to devotees as needed. The reserves are kept in store. Devotees attending the Makara Vilakku Darshana will have a banquet on the day at the Annadanamandapam. The Devaswom Board's Annadana Mandapam provides food to over thirty thousand devotees every day. Devaswom Executive Officer VS Rajendra Prasad said that the police have started work on setting up barricades at the places where devotees routinely stand to see the Makara Jyoti. In the Parnasalas the devotees make for Makara Vilakku Darshan are not allowed to cook for security reasons. The necessary steps will be taken in collaboration with the Fire Force and the Forest Department. The Devaswom Board also supplies medicinal drinking water and biscuits in addition to the water authority's kiosks to provide drinking water to the devotees. In addition to the existing staff, more temporary employees have been appointed. During rush hour, the duration of the darshan is given an extension in consultation with the Tantri. The Makara Vilakku this year is on January 15th.