Two major temple administration boards in Kerala have banned the offering of ‘Arali’ flowers (oleander) in sacred rituals following the death of a woman in the Alappuzha district. The decision was made after incidents of accidental poisoning were reported in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta. The ban affects 1,248 temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board and 1,400 temples under the Malabar Devaswom Board. Substitute flowers like tulsi, thechi, jasmine, jamanti, and rose will be used instead.