Tirupati Laddu's Purity: Holy Sweet under scrutiny

The sacred Tirupati laddu, a beloved prasadam for millions of devotees, is at the center of a heated controversy. The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh has alleged that laboratory reports indicate the presence of "animal fat" in the ghee used to make the laddus during the previous YSRCP government's tenure.

This claim has ignited a political firestorm, with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu accusing the former administration of using substandard ingredients and animal fat in the preparation of the consecrated sweet. The opposition YSR Congress Party has vehemently denied these allegations.

This isn't the first time questions have been raised about the quality of the Tirupati prasadam. The TDP has previously criticized the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the temple's managing body, for alleged lapses in quality control. In response, the TTD has recently established a new sensory perception laboratory to enhance quality checks.

The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), a supplier of ghee to the TTD, has clarified that its supplies began only after the recent regime change in the state. This statement comes in the wake of allegations by the TDP, even though the party did not specifically mention KMF.

While the purported lab report from a Gujarat-based laboratory has not been officially confirmed, it has added fuel to the controversy. The report claims to have detected “animal fat,” lard, and fish oil in the ghee samples.

The controversy has sparked outrage among devotees and raised concerns about the sanctity of the prasadam. The TTD has assured the public that they are committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality and purity in the preparation of the laddus. At present everything has been sanitised at the temple leading to improved quality of laddus.