Sabarimala: The Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala has reported a sharp rise in revenue during the first 15 days of the ongoing annual Mandala–Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, with total collections reaching ₹92 crore. According to figures released by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Monday, this marks a 33.33% increase from the ₹69 crore collected during the same period last year.
A major portion of the revenue came from aravana sales, which generated ₹47 crore—an impressive 46.86% jump from last year’s ₹32 crore. Revenue from appam sales remained steady at ₹3.5 crore, similar to the previous season. The temple also saw an 18.18% rise in kanikka (hundi offerings), increasing from ₹22 crore in 2024 to ₹26 crore this year.
The temple has witnessed heavy footfall since the start of the season, with nearly 13 lakh pilgrims visiting the hill shrine up to November 30, the TDB said. The Mandala–Makaravilakku pilgrimage season will conclude in January 2026.
