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PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA, November 13, 2003: With only three days left for the 61-day annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season at Sabarimala, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the Kerala Government have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the annual festival. The Clean Pampa Manalppuram-drive, which involves the spreading of fine sand on the banks of the Pampa, is underway. The TDB will not permit any shops or stalls to be erected on the riverbank to provide enough open space for the pilgrims to rest and perform Pithru Tharpanam (ablutions to the ancestors). Major roads are being paved with granite slabs and thousands of toilets are being set up. The preparation of the Aravana payasam (blessed food) began at Sannidhanam on Wednesday with special pujas being performed at the Prasadam preparation unit. According to the Sabarimala Executive Officer, R. Krishnan Nair, the TDB will stock 500,000 containers of Aravana and 250,000 packets of Appam (fried balls of rice and jaggery). He said that as part of its Annadaanam scheme (free feeding), the TDB has also made arrangements to supply breakfast for 2,000 pilgrims at Pampa, mid-day meals for 5,000 pilgrims at Sannidhanam and supper for 1,000 pilgrims at Erumeli on a daily basis through out the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season. The Annadaanam would begin at all the designated places on November 17, he added.

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