{
  "id": 16333471,
  "title": "Tamil Nadu pilgrims question Pongal dhotis sold at Pamba",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/tamil-nadu-pilgrims-question-pongal-dhotis-sold-at-pamba",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-24T14:02:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Arabian Post",
    "slug": "arabian-post",
    "url": "https://thearabianpost.com/tamil-nadu-pilgrims-question-pongal-dhotis-sold-at-pamba/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pilgrims from Tamil Nadu have questioned the practice of distributing free Pongal dhotis in Kerala, claiming the garments were later sold as irumudi bags at Pamba, the gateway to Sabarimala temple. The allegations surfaced after devotees spotted markings from the Tamil Nadu government on cloth used for the ritual bundles at a packing centre near a Ganapathi temple. The Travancore Devaswom Board, responsible for arrangements at Sabarimala, stated it would investigate the matter. Tamil Nadu offers dhotis and sarees to eligible ration-card holders during Pongal, but the presence of marked cloth in a paid pilgrimage service has raised concerns. The printed information on the cloth indicates it was part of the 2025 distribution scheme. Devotees circulated images and videos of the marked bags on social media, sparking discussions about whether subsidised welfare materials had entered the supply chain for religious offerings. The packing facility, under Devaswom Board supervision, allows pilgrims to complete the irumudi ritual and charges Rs 300 for the service. Questions remain about the origin of the cloth, its journey to Pamba, and whether any unlawful resale occurred. Establishing the cloth's path from distribution to sale would be crucial in determining if welfare rules were violated.",
  "summary": "Pilgrims from Tamil Nadu have alleged that dhotis distributed free under their state's Pongal welfare programme were converted into irumudi bags and sold for Rs 300 at Pamba, the gateway to Kerala's Sabarimala temple. The allegations emerged after devotees identified Tamil Nadu government markings on cloth used for th… The article Tamil Nadu pilgrims question Pongal dhotis sold at Pamba appeared…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
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        "title": "Tamil Nadu CM Vijay distributes appointment orders to 69 candidates posted in Agriculture Department",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-distributes-appointment-orders-to-69-candidates",
        "published": "2026-10-23T08:37:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "IMD alert for today: Cyclone brewing in Bay of Bengal; heavy rain forecasted for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/imd-alert-for-today-cyclone-brewing-in-bay-of-bengal-heavy-rain",
        "published": "2026-10-24T01:52:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "2 students, principal among 4 held over Tamil Nadu student’s suicide for caste discrimination over beef consumption",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/2-students-principal-among-4-held-over-tamil-nadu-students-suicide",
        "published": "2026-10-24T02:13:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "From Eastern to Western Ghats: Tamil Nadu witnesses its annual butterfly migration",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/from-eastern-to-western-ghats-tamil-nadu-witnesses-its-annual",
        "published": "2026-10-24T08:29:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}