Tirupati Laddoo Controversy: Temple clarifies on Prasadam quality

While the controversy of Tirupati Laddoo has sent shockwaves across the country, officials at the famous Sri Venkateswara Temple have been seen performing purification rituals and declined any shortage in the laddoo prasadam. They have assured the devotees about laddoo prasadam being served to them with allegations that the ghee used to prepare the laddoos is adulterated.

As per new reports, the temple management, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), clarified that it now uses ghee from the brand of Nandini, supplied by Karnataka Milk Federation to prepare the laddoos. The exercise was done to ensure that the taste, quality, and aroma of the prasadam do not change.

News reports also suggest that an allegation once cropped up that the Tamil Nadu-based supplier A R Dairy Food Private Limited was using ghee mixed with animal fat. However, the company outright denied the allegations. Still, the TTD avoided all suspicion by opting for a reputed ghee supplier.

Various kinds of ‘purification rites’ are being performed in the Tirupati temple to achieve purity. These rites, called ‘Shanti Homam’, were meant to cleanse out all the negative effects and regain the laddoo prasadam its original holiness. These rites were done in the ghee storage tanks, the kitchen, and the trays that carry the offerings.

According to a TTD official, “We are now using mainly ghee made by Nandini, which has brought back the quality, taste, and aroma of the laddoos.” Since August 25, seven tankers, each carrying around 13,000 litres of Nandini ghee, have been arriving at Tirumala to meet the demand.

With festivals up in arms, including the nine-day Brahmotsavam from October 4 to 12, the queue of devotees is awaiting a permit to enter the temple premises and increasing day by day. As a result, the laddoos being sold in the entire temple complex have increased.

Once the purification process was completed, TTD Executive Officer J Syamala Rao told the devotees, “You can set aside all your apprehensions or concerns about the quality of laddoo prasadam and other offerings. Sanctity has been restored.”

Temple management maintains vigil for delivering the purest of foodstuffs to the devotees of exceptionally high quality.
(Images courtesy: Canva)