Thiruvananthapuram: In a special initiative for devotees of Lord Ayyappa, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has commenced the distribution of gold lockets sanctified at the Sabarimala shrine. The initiative was officially launched on Vishu, the Malayalam New Year, marking a significant spiritual offering from the temple authorities.
Kerala Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan inaugurated the distribution by presenting the first gold locket to a devotee from Andhra Pradesh who had booked it online. Sabarimala Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru, TDB President P.S. Prasanth, and Board Member A. Ajikumar later handed over lockets to other devotees.
The lockets, featuring the image of Lord Ayyappa, are available in three variants:
– 2 grams priced at Rs 19,300
– 4 grams at Rs 38,600
– 8 grams at Rs 77,200
Within two days of launch, 100 lockets were booked by devotees. The gold lockets can be purchased via both online and offline modes. GRT Jewellers (Tamil Nadu) and Kalyan Jewellers (Kerala) have been selected through tender to design and supply the lockets.
The gold lockets were consecrated inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Sabarimala temple before distribution, adding religious significance to the offering.