3 Quintal Controversial Tirupati Laddoo Was Distributed During Ayodhya Ram Temple Consecration Event

Ayodhya: During the consecration ceremony of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya in January 2024, around 300 kilograms of laddoos from the Tirupati temple was distributed to devotees.

The chief priest of the Ram Temple, Acharya Satyendra Das revealed this in the wake of a controversy over the alleged use of animal fat in ghee in the preparation of laddoos at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati.

The priest demanded strict action against people responsible if animal fat was mixed in the ‘prasad’, terming it unforgivable.

The TTD has stated that the lab report confirmed the presence of lard and other impurities in ghee provided by a contractor, who has been blacklisted and legal proceeding have been initiated against him.

The controversy erupted when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleging that animal fat was used in Tirupati laddoos during the previous YSRCP government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The issue intensified after lab reports, commissioned by the TDP, stated that the ghee samples tested showed traces of animal fats, including beef tallow, lard, and fish oil.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi have both called for investigations and have sought reports from the Andhra Pradesh government.