Nandini ghee is now used in the prasadam (laddu) made at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple (Tirupati Temple) in Andhra Pradesh. Nandini is a popular brand of Karnataka Milk Federation. Amid the controversy, just a month ago the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) awarded the contract to supply ghee to the Karnataka Milk Federation.
MK Jagdish, Managing Director of Karnataka Milk Federation said, We have installed GPS system and geo location device in our vehicles. These vehicles deliver ghee to the temple. By installing a GPS system, it is known where the vehicle is stopped. So that confusion can be prevented. Karnataka Milk Federation has got a contract to supply 350 tonnes of ghee.
On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan is also incriminating himself for finding animal fat in Tirupati ladoo prasadam. Pawan said that he regrets that he did not come to know about the mix-up earlier. They will atone for this. Pawan said- He will fast for 11 days.
Pawan said- Hindu caste was tarnished due to Jagan government's mistake
Pawan Kalyan wrote on social media that not recognizing this sin at the beginning is a disgrace on the Hindu caste.
When I came to know that Ladoo Prasadam contains animal fat, I was shocked. feel guilty. As I am fighting for the welfare of the people, I feel sad that I could not recognize him.
A case has been registered against former Chief Minister Jagan Reddy A case has been registered against former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and others. He has been accused of damaging the sanctity of the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple and hurting Hindu religious sentiments following allegations of adulteration of ghee used in the famous Tirupati Ladoo Prasadam. A lawyer has filed this complaint at the Saidabad Police Station in Hyderabad.
Amid the controversy over the sanctity of the ladoo at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple (Tirupati temple) in Andhra Pradesh, the temple management Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) said that the prasadam is now completely pure and holy. We are committed to continue to do so.
Where did the Prasadam controversy reach?
Supreme Court: Lawyer Satyam Singh filed a petition in the Supreme Court. He said that this is a violation of the fundamental principles of Hindu religious customs. The court should take immediate note of this.
High Court: Fat dispute in YSR Ladoo goes to High Court. Jagan Reddy's side has requested an inquiry into the matter under the supervision of the sitting judge. The next hearing of this case will be on September 25.
Ministry of Health: The Health Ministry has sought a report from the Andhra Pradesh government. Health Minister JP Nadda said, I have spoken to CM Chandrababu Naidu. The prasad (ladoo) of the temple will be examined.
Demand for CBI probe: TDP, Congress and BJP have demanded a CBI probe into the matter. However, the central government has not yet handed over the case to the investigating agency.
How did this controversy come up…The Karnataka Cooperative Milk Federation (KMF) had been supplying ghee to the Trust at subsidized rates for the past 50 years. The temple consumes 1400 tonnes of ghee every six months. In July 2023, the company refused to supply at lower rates, after which the Jagan government (YSRCP) awarded the supply work to 5 companies. One of these is AR Dairy Foods based in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, whose product was found to be defective in July this year.
TDP govt came, sample test done in July, fate confirmed
The TDP government appointed senior IAS officer J Shyamala Rao as the new executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in June 2024.
He ordered to check the quality of prasadam. A committee was formed for this. The committee made several suggestions to improve the taste and quality of prasad and a sample of ghee was sent to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Gujarat for testing. Fate was mentioned in a report that came out in July.
After this TTD returned the stock of ghee sent by AR Dairy Foods based in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu and blacklisted the contractor. After this TTD started procuring ghee from Karnataka Milk Federation.
Ghee was purchased from the old supplier at Rs 320 per kg. While Tirupati Trust is now buying ghee from Karnataka Cooperative Milk Federation (KMF) at Rs 475 per kg.
NDDB Kolf, a ghee purity testing laboratory, has agreed to donate a machine to Tirupati to test the purity of ghee. Its price is 75 lakh rupees.
CM Naidu accused of mixing animal fat in ghee
Chief Minister Naidu also made a statement again on the ghee issue. Speaking at a meeting in Prakasam district, Naidu said that when ghee was available in the market at Rs 500 per kg, the Jagan government bought ghee at Rs 320 per kg. In such a case the ghee must have been adulterated by the supplier. There will be an inquiry into the purchase of low-priced ghee by the Jagan government. The sanctity of the Tirupati temple has been tarnished by laddus made from animal fat ghee.
CM Naidu had alleged on September 18 that animal fat and fish oil were mixed in the ghee used for laddus in the Tirupati temple during the former Jagan government. The TDP has also claimed to confirm its allegations by showing the lab report.
A 300-year-old kitchen, only Brahmins make 3.5 lakh laddus
At the Tirupati temple, around 200 Brahmins make laddus with pure country ghee in a 300-year-old kitchen.
Tirupati Temple is one of the most popular and richest religious places in the world. Every day around 70 thousand devotees visit Lord Venkateswara Swamy here. It is administered by the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams (TTD).
3.50 lakh laddus are made daily using pure country ghee in the 300 year old kitchen 'Potu' built in the temple premises. This is the main offering of the temple, which is made by about 200 Brahmins.
Ladoo consists of pure gram flour, boondi, sugar, cashew nuts and pure ghee. At the time of consecration of the Ram temple, the trust had sent about one lakh ladus to Ayodhya.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
