Pilgrims visiting the Sabarimala temple were allowed to carry coconuts in hand luggage on flights

Pilgrims traveling to the Sabarimala temple in Kerala will be allowed to carry coconuts in their carry-on luggage until January 20, 2025, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu announced on October 26. The two-month pilgrim season to Sabarimala will begin from the middle of this year. November.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has granted temporary exemption to pilgrims to carry coconuts in their hand luggage during this period. Traditionally, coconuts are prohibited in hand luggage due to safety regulations because they are flammable.

To facilitate travel for those visiting Sabarimala Temple, the Civil Aviation Minister stated that an exception has been made to “permit carriage of coconuts in ‘Irumudi’ as hand luggage during the pilgrimage to Mandalam-Makaravilakku” . The policy will remain in effect until January 20, 2025, while adhering to all required security protocols, he said in a post on X.

In an effort to facilitate ease of travel for Sabarimala pilgrims, we have granted a special exemption allowing carriage of coconuts in ‘Irumudi’ as hand luggage during the pilgrimage to Mandalam-Makaravilakku. This decision is in effect until January 20, 2025, with… pic.twitter.com/OZcmSMhXa4

— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) October 26, 2024

Pilgrims will have to undergo necessary checks including X-ray examination, Explosive Trace Detector (ETD) tests and physical inspections before transporting coconuts into the hut.

The temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa will open for the pilgrimage season in mid-November and will continue until the end of January. Every year, millions of devotees visit the hill shrine, and many bring an ‘Irumudi Kettu’ – a sacred bag filled with offerings, including a coconut filled with ghee for the deity.

Normally, pilgrims prepare their ‘Irumudi Kettu’ as part of the ‘Kettunirakal’ ritual. During this ritual, a coconut is filled with ghee and placed in the bag alongside other offerings, which also include several regular coconuts meant to be broken at various holy places during the pilgrimage.

Only those wearing the ‘Irumudi Kettu’ on their heads are allowed to climb the 18 sacred steps leading to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Pilgrims without the ‘Irumudi Kettu’ have to use an alternate path to reach the inner sanctum.