Tirupati Laddoo Row: Temple Undergoes 'Sanitation' Amid Furore Over Animal Fat In Prasadam

The Sri Venkateswara Swami temple in Tirumala Hills, Tirupati, underwent a four-hour "ritualistic sanitation" on Monday following allegations of sacrilegious practices, including the use of animal fats in making the temple's iconic laddus.

According to a PTI report, the Shanti Homam Panchagavya Prokshana ceremony was conducted from 6 am to 10 am, aimed at restoring the temple's sanctity and appeasing the deity.

These rituals were seen as necessary after allegations of such practices during the tenure of the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government.

On Sunday, J Shyamala Rao, executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the temple, explained that the rituals were meant to "ward off the ill effects and restore the sanctity of laddu prasadams, along with the well-being of Srivari devotees."

The controversy began when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged on September 19 that the ghee used in preparing the Tirupati laddu prasadam had been adulterated with animal fat during the YSRCP regime.

Lab tests reportedly confirmed the presence of beef tallow, lard, and fish oil in the samples sent by TTD to a Gujarat-based laboratory. In response, J Shyamala Rao confirmed that the contractor responsible for supplying the adulterated ghee was being blacklisted.

The Andhra Pradesh government announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged use of animal fat in the laddus.

Rejecting Naidu's accusations, former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy penned an eight-page letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing Naidu of spreading lies for political gain.

Reddy stated, "Naidu has stooped so low as to hurt the beliefs of crores of people purely for political objectives," urging PM Modi to take action. He added, "It is very imperative that Mr. Naidu be reprimanded in the severest way for his shameless act of spreading lies and that the truth be brought to light."

This ongoing controversy has sparked debates around religious beliefs and political motivations, with both sides calling for accountability.