‘Halal’ jaggery row: Ensure worship materials for Sabarimala conform to religious customs, says HC

Aravana (a traditional sweet made from red rice, jaggery and ghee) and unniyappam (made from rice, jaggery and other ingredients and fried) are the main offerings to the Sabarimala deity Lord Ayyappa.Deciding on a plea against the use of halal-certified jaggery at the Sabarimala hill shrine, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the temple’s administrative body, the Travancore Devaswom Board, to “exercise more care and caution… to ensure that the materials procured for” offerings to the deity “are in conformity with the prescribed quality standards as well as the religious customs applicable to the Temple”.