Food safety officials say prior permission needed to give annadhanam; padayatris going to Palani feel the pinch
safefoodmitra.com · 2025-02-10 09:45:27
Mallika, 30, from Reddiapatti, had been providing idlis to the padayatris for a few years. This year, she is at home not knowing how to go about giving the annadhanam. “No official came here. If they had I would have got permission,” she says.
Balaji, 50, a padayatri from Karaikudi, says, “Last year, I did not spend much money as I was able to get annadhanam at many places en route to the temple. But this year, I am forced to pay and eat at the roadside hotels as there are few annadhanam spots on the way.”
Chelliah, 43, from Madurai, adds that this time, their group arranged for a cook and a van. “We have collected more amount and the cook travels before us and at the designated spot he cooks and keeps the meals ready. This is proving helpful for us as we are seeing less number of annadhanam spots,” he said.