The temples in Kerala have banned offerings of ‘Arali’ flowers (oleander) in sacred rituals after a decision by two major temple administration boards following the death of a woman in Alappuzha district.
In Kerala, oleander is known as ‘Arali’ and ‘kanaveeram’, and grows in different colours and varieties.
Decision by two boards
The decision to ban oleander flowers was taken by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which is entrusted with the task of administrating 1,248 temples, and the Malabar Devaswom Board with over 1,400 temples under its jurisdiction.
Why oleander is banned
According to a PTI report, the decision was made after incidents were reported in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta. In Alappuzha, a woman allegedly died after consuming some Arali flowers and leaves by mistake. A cow and calf also reportedly died in Pathanamthitta last week after eating oleander leaves.
Nurse died due to accidental oleander poisoning
According to the Indian Express, Surya Surendran (24), a nurse who was set to leave for the UK on April 28, died prima facie due to accidental oleander poisoning.
On April 28, she chewed some leaves of the oleander plant, which grew outside her house in Alappuzha's Pallipad. After that, she developed uneasiness and vomited a few times. Later that day, she collapsed at the Kochi airport and died a couple of days later at a hospital, according to the report.
Substitute for oleander
Flowers like tulsi, thechi (Ixora), jasmine, jamanti (hibiscus), and rose will be used instead of oleander in temples.
What Travancore Devaswom Board says
It has been decided to completely avoid using Arali flowers in the ‘naivedya’ and ‘prasad’ offerings in temples under the TDB, PTI quoted PS Prasanth, the president of the TDB, as saying.
Malabar Devaswom Board follows suit
Although the ‘Arali’ flower is not widely used in rituals in temples, its use is banned, considering the safety of devotees. Studies have found that the flower contains toxic substances, MR Murali, Malabar Devaswom Board President, told PTI.
Medicinal properties
The Indian Express report said that according to Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, an oil prepared from the root bark can be used to treat skin diseases.
Toxic nature
According to some studies, oleander, a tough and pretty shrub, grows well in tropical and subtropical areas. The studies suggest that inside their leaves and flowers, oleanders have cardenolides, which can affect the functioning of the hearts of animals and humans, PTI reported.
