Temples in Tripunithura Forced to Revert to Traditional Firewood Kitchens Amid Severe LPG Crisis
As the commercial LPG shortage intensifies across Tripunithura, numerous temples are planning a significant shift back to traditional kitchens that rely on firewood for cooking. With the festival season reaching its peak, this issue is anticipated to worsen, disrupting religious ceremonies and daily offerings.
Critical Shortage Impacts Temple Operations and Offerings
Guru Prasad, the assistant priest of Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, highlighted the dire situation. "We require a minimum of two cylinders for preparing naivedyams, which include offerings like pudding, boiled rice, and other essential items," he explained. "For the past twelve days, we have been waiting in vain for refilled cylinders, with no relief in sight."
Most of the offerings are archanas conducted in the name of students appearing for various examinations, while items such as pudding are prepared in smaller quantities. However, the upcoming days are particularly auspicious as the birth star of the presiding deity approaches, leading to increased demand for naivedyam offerings from devotees.
Festival Season and Auspicious Events Exacerbate the Crisis
The temple is scheduled to serve a naivedya sadya, or birthday feast, to hundreds of devotees during the Painkuni Uthram day celebrations on April 1. "If the LPG shortage persists, we have no alternative but to revert to firewood for cooking," Prasad stated. "Yet, with the marriage season commencing on Sunday, the first day of the Malayalam month Meenam, many caterers have already switched to firewood, making it exceedingly difficult for temples to procure sufficient firewood even if we transition to traditional kitchens."
Widespread Adoption of Firewood in Major Temples
M G Yahuldas, assistant commissioner of Chottanikkara Devi Temple, confirmed that most temples under the Cochin Devaswam Board, including prominent ones like Poornathrayeesa and Chottanikkara, have already resorted to using firewood for cooking offerings. "In Chottanikkara Devi Temple, firewood is a common fuel in the temple kitchen," he noted. "At Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple, an average of 120 litres of milk pudding, known as Paal Panthirunaazhi, is prepared daily using firewood."
Community Support and Devotee Contributions
In some temples located on village outskirts, devotees are stepping in to assist by providing firewood and coconut shells to ensure the preparation of routine naivedyams. Appu Namboothiri, the main priest of Mulanthuruthy Sree Krishna Temple, shared insights into this community effort. "Along with traditional worshipping materials such as flowers, coconut, and oil, devotees have begun bringing firewood, coconut husks, and shells to fuel the temple kitchen," he said. "Previously, they brought coconut husks and shells primarily for the Ganapathy Homam, but now these items are essential for daily cooking needs."
The escalating LPG shortage is not only disrupting temple operations but also placing additional strain on resources as the festival season progresses. Temples are navigating these challenges by embracing traditional methods, albeit with difficulties in sourcing adequate firewood due to increased demand from various sectors.
