Kumily turns into a must-see destination for those trying their luck

A Sabarimala pilgrim buying lottery tickets from a shop in Kumily, Idukki. | Photo credit: Jomon Pampavalli

The town of Kumily in Idukki, which is famous for its spices and crispy banana chips, has now become a hub for the sale of Kerala state lottery tickets.

Lottery tickets are collected by Sabarimala pilgrims and tourists visiting the city, the city now has more than 50 lottery shops. Some of these shops are open around the clock during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season.

Chakraborty, the owner of lottery shop in Kumili, said that the interest of visitors to buy lottery tickets has increased. “Tourists, Sabarimala pilgrims and foreigners are also eager to buy lottery tickets. Such lots are not available in many places, so people buy them with great enthusiasm,’ he said.

Bumper sale

One of the most sought-after tickets is the Christmas Bumper ticket, priced at ₹400. “Every day I sell 20-25 Christmas bumper tickets,” Mr. Chakraborty said.

According to local lottery shop owners, a major chunk of customers come from Tamil Nadu. Many shops report selling more than 1,000 tickets a day, with long queues in front of shops during the pilgrimage season. “During this period, shops open early in the morning and run till late at night. Some operate round the clock,’ said a shopkeeper.

Sri Ram, a Sabarimala pilgrim from Trichy, Tamil Nadu, shares his experience. “Lottery tickets are not available in Tamil Nadu, so I bought one here out of curiosity. I am trying my luck with this product owned by the Kerala government,” he said with a smile.

The increase in lottery sales has also made Kumily an attractive destination for shopkeepers. Mohammad Rajali, a shopkeeper who rents out his space to sell lottery tickets, reveals the economics behind it. “I rent out my shop for ₹1,000 per day with a security deposit of ₹3 lakh. This demand has turned Kumily into a lottery hub,” said Mr. Rajli.

With the growing interest in lottery tickets, Kumily has also become a must-see destination for tourists and pilgrims.