Pathanamthitta: The Travancore Devaswom Board has issued tenders for the supply of gold coins at Sabarimala. The lockets carrying the mark of Lord Ayyappa will be distributed to devotees through devaswom stalls.

The board plans to procure pure 916 gold lockets holding image of Ayyappa in different weights. The product will be hallmarked and will be available in different weights one gram, two grams, four grams and eight grams. The officials said that 25-50 pieces will be procured initially.

"Factors like price fluctuation will be decided following negotiation. The lockets will be supplied externally and the board won't make lockets with own gold. 22 carat gold lockets will be sold through the stalls," said the official. During this makaravilaku season, lockets won't be available. The initial plan is to arrange bookings and supply lockets in the following months when the temple is open.

As per the tender conditions, the making charge for the gold coin shall remain fixed for the entire contract period and the successful tenderer in any circumstances shall not demand for increasing the making charge of the same. The payments will only be made in accordance with the number of gold coins distributed to the devotees.

The successful tenderer shall only supply the specified number of gold coins after getting a written demand letter from the Executive Officer Sabarimala/Administrative Officer Sabarimala, the document notes. Gold lockets will be sold based on market rates and making charges will be fixed based on rates quoted by the successful bidder.