look news india
The ongoing controversy over mixing of animal fat in the Laddus Prasadam served in the world famous Tirupati temple of Andhra Pradesh is not stopping. Here, politics is heating up regarding adulteration in Prasad. However, apart from the opposition expressed by political parties, devotees do not care about the Medna controversy. There has been no decline in the sales of laddus here. After the adulteration controversy came to light, 13 lakh laddus were sold in 4 days.
Despite the controversy over the alleged use of animal fat in making Tirupati's famous laddus, devotees' faith in the prasadam has not diminished. More than 13 lakh laddus were sold in Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati in just four days. In this way, an average of 3.5 lakh laddus are being sold every day. According to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board data, more than 13 lakh laddus were sold between September 20 and 23, after the controversy started.
Politics heated up over 'Prasadam' controversy
The Prasadam controversy started last week on September 19 when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu made a sensational allegation that during the previous YSRCP government, substandard ingredients including animal fat were used in making laddus. However, former Chief Minister and YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy has strongly refuted Naidu's allegation.
Rituals in the temple for sanctification
Amid growing concerns among devotees, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) conducted “Shanti Hom”, a ritual involving purification to restore the sanctity of the laddu prasadam. The ritual, performed as per the Vaighanas Aagam tradition, was performed in the temple shrine from 6 am to 10 am. Holy water was sprinkled by the priests on the kitchen where laddus are made and the ingredients used in making them.
Notice to company in Tamil Nadu
Meanwhile, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a show cause notice to AR Dairy Food Pvt Ltd, a Tamil Nadu-based company that supplies ghee to TTD. FSSAI has also raised questions on the quality of ghee and sought answers as to why the company's central license should not be suspended for violating food safety norms.
Despite the ongoing controversies over Prasadam, the sale of laddus continues, and more than 60,000 pilgrims visit the temple every day, showing their unwavering faith in the sacred Prasadam.