Kerala’s Travancore, Malabar Devaswom Boards ban use of Arali flowers in temples | Latest news India

In a major decision, Kerala’s two major temple boards, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and Malabar Devaswom Board (MDB), which manage the majority of temples in the state, have banned the use of oleander flowers (Arali) in their sacred rituals, given the toxic content in the flowers.

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TDB President PS Prasanth announced the decision regarding news rules for offerings in the temples under his jurisdiction after a meeting was held following concerns raised over the poisonous nature of these flowers, which could be harmful can be for humans and animals.

He said oleander can be used for puja but devotees should offer Tulsi, Thechi and Rosa flowers as prasad offerings at the temples. It has been decided to prevent Arali flowers from reaching the hands of devotees directly from the temple.

“It has been decided to completely avoid the use of Arali flowers in the naivedya and prasad offerings in temples under the TDB. Instead, other flowers like tulsi, thechi (Ixora), jasmine, jamanti (hibiscus) and rose are used”, news agency PTI quoted Prasanth as saying.

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Furthermore, MDP President MR Murali has said that the use of Arali flowers for rituals has been restricted due to their poisonous content. “Though the Arali flower is not widely used in rituals in temples, its use has been banned for the safety of devotees. Research has revealed that the flower contains poisonous substances,” he told PTI.

The TDB is entrusted with the management of 1,248 temples in Travancore, while MDB manages over 1,400 temples under its jurisdiction.

The decision came after a woman in Alappuzha recently died after allegedly consuming Arali flowers and leaves from her area. There were also tragic reports of a cow and calf dying in Pathanamthitta two days ago after eating oleander leaves.

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According to some research, oleander, a tough and beautiful shrub, grows well in tropical and subtropical regions. The studies show that oleanders contain cardenolides in their leaves and flowers, which can affect the heart of animals and humans, causing it to beat more strongly.

(With input from agencies)