The Nairs, who had tax-free lands at their disposal for the upkeep of temples, were entrusted with the responsibility of importing and stocking ghee made from cow’s milk (clarified butter) for distribution under the supervision of the Taluk Tehsildar. This ghee is then distributed to different palaces as well as to all temples in the city such as Mathilakam, Sreekanteswaram, etc. This was the standard practice being followed in the olden days. Now, with the tax-free lands being taken over for being rented out, the ghee is procured through contractors by paying the prevailing price at the time of purchase. But, at the same time, it is learnt that the ghee for meeting this demand is being bought and stocked for distribution through those who have monopoly over it with the knowledge of the Tehsildar. At the end of each year, an auction is held at the Secretariat by the Dewan to choose the lowest bidder for supplying the required amount of ghee for the subsequent year. It is also seen that trading in ghee at the rate of 20 panams [four chackrams constitute one panam] for a pan [i.e., an edangazhi; four nazhi measures make one pan of ghee] of ghee made from cow’s milk and 14 panams for the same amount of cooking ghee is also being carried out for some time now, indicating a difference in the price of ghee while being procured from the site of production, i.e., houses and the price for which it is sold in the markets. However, it is questionable how contractors settle for 5 panams for an edangazhi of ghee required for Mathilakam, the palace, etc. during the auction. At the same time, they fix the auction for supplying ghee for the dining hall of Brahmins working in connection with the annual festival at Sree Padmanabha Swami temple at a slightly higher rate i.e., one or half-a-panam higher than 5 panams. When an edangazhi of ghee made from cow’s milk is sold for 20 panams, it is enigmatic how traders who have monopoly over ghee trading bid for it at the price of coconut oil i.e., as low as 5 panams or 7 panams at the most. It is well-known that the contractors will never come forward to help the government by sacrificing whatever is due to them as profit. Further, it is to be inferred that the contractors either exert influence on those who spend for ghee as also on those who use it to keep consumption to a minimum or they adulterate the ghee required for immediate supply by mixing groundnut oil in it. That this inference is not groundless will become clear to anyone who cares to examine the puja items prepared for the worship of Mathilakam Sree Padmanabha Swami. It is well-known that for the use at Mathilakam alone, more than three paras [one para is equal to 10 edangazhis] of ghee made from cow’s milk is required daily. Even though half of this is set aside to please the police commissioner or the manager and the like, there is no harm in believing that the remaining amount of ghee is used in preparing various items including eatables sanctified for worshipping the deity. These are later exchanged as prasadams [temple favours] for cash. Since the poor and the ignorant buy the prasadams to fill their stomachs, their money certainly accumulates in the pockets of the managers. In due course, the money thus earned swells the coffers of the police commissioner as well. Many people have already stopped using cooking ghee on the suspicion that it is adulterated with animal fat taken from goats or oxen. How pathetic and deplorable it is that a government, which is expected to take all precautionary measures to ensure the health of its people is covertly, if not overtly, giving a green signal to contractors? These contractors press ahead with their sinister design of adulterating cooking ghee with groundnut oil or something else and sell it to temples causing irreparable damage to the people?! If ghee is expensive or dear, the government could have avoided serious lapses by substituting it with coconut oil, which is cheaper. If not, ghee must be sold only on being certified by a qualified chemist. Whatever it is, we cannot but emphasize that the government must do whatever is required of it to stop the use of this bacteria-infested ghee at temples and help prevent the spread of diseases.