BCAS permits Sabarimala pilgrims to carry coconuts in cabin baggage on flights

Pilgrims visiting the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala can now carry coconuts in their cabin baggage on flights until January 20, 2025. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has granted this approval for a limited time period, even though coconuts are usually not allowed in cabin baggage due to flammability concerns. Before boarding, coconuts will undergo X-Ray, ETD, and physical checks. The temple will open for the pilgrimage season in mid-November, with devotees traditionally carrying ‘irumudi kettu’ – a sacred bag containing offerings, including a coconut filled with ghee. Only those carrying ‘irumudi kettu’ on their head are permitted to climb the 18 sacred steps to reach the temple’s sanctum sanctorum.