HC no to plastic in Sabarimala 'irumudi'

The Kerala High Court today directed the Travancore Devaswom Board and all other temple boards in the state to ensure that "irumudikkettu" (sacred bundle) carried by Sabarimala pilgrims does not contain plastic packing materials.
A bench comprising Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice Anu Sivaraman directed that use of plastic materials to pack things like turmeric in "irumudikkettu" should be effectively controlled.
The decision will be applicable whenever and wherever filling of "irumudikkettu" takes place, said the bench which looks into matters connected with the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala.
The Bench said that use of bio-degradable products shall be encouraged to carry holy things in the "irumudikkettu".

The directive should be communicated to other states also, the court said.
Thousands of devotees from various states, especially southern states, throng the temple during the two-month long annual pilgrimage season at the temple which starts in mid- November.