Sabarimala: With 20 days left for the holy Sabarimala temple in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta opens for its two-month pilgrimage of the annual Mandala – Makaravilakku. the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) said that just like in previous years, pilgrims could carry coconuts for rituals at the temple in their cabin baggage on flights during the Sabarimala season.
Devotees are permitted to carry coconuts till January 20, 2025. The decision will be a huge relief for devotees planning to visit the temple from other parts of the country, especially from the north states where there are a large number of devotees visiting the hilly shrine for the ‘Mandala season’.
“We had approached the Civil aviation ministry three months back for the matter to get sanctioned. Without much hurdles this was agreed. Earlier devotees coming from other states has to fill the coconut in the ‘Irumudikettu’ once they reach here. There were lot of confusions especially from devotees who had no idea from where they had to get this done. From now on, they can fill the coconut from their respective places
Devotees often carry a simple cloth bag of offerings, called ‘irumudi kettu,’ when they visit Sabarimala. One of the items in the bag is coconuts filled with ghee, which are to be offered to the Lord as part of the ‘Kettunirakkal’ ritual. The bag generally has ordinary coconuts, too, to be broken at various holy spots during the pilgrimage. Coconuts will only be carried in the cabin after the requisite X-ray, ETD (Explosive Trace Detector), and physical checks.
Reason for coconut restricted in flights
As coconuts are combustible, they are usually not allowed in cabin baggage in any form. Dry coconut or copra, a highly inflammable object, is not allowed even in check-in baggage. It is considered a Class 4 risk in cargo. Copra, used to produce coconut oil, can cause a fire if heated inside an aircraft. It can cause a fire in a single spark. It can also emit flammable gases when in contact with water. Various airlines have different regulations on allowing coconuts on their flights. For example, on its website, SpiceJet Airlines says coconut is permitted for carriage in checked-in baggage if cut into small pieces. In international travel, retail-packed coconut products are permitted.
