Tirupati Laddu Controversy: In response to concerns from devotees regarding the quality of ghee used in the preparation of the famous Tirupati Laddu Prasadam, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has assured pilgrims that the sanctity of the revered sweet has been fully restored.
In a social media update shared on Friday night, TTD, the governing body of the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the divine purity of the laddus. The post declared that "the divinity and purity of Srivari Laddu is unblemished now," and emphasized that TTD is dedicated to ensuring the holiness of the prasadam, which is cherished by millions of devotees worldwide.
TTD Executive Officer, Sri J. Syamala Rao, addressing the media at the Annamaiah Bhavan Meeting Hall in Tirumala, stated that the temple administration will use only pure cow ghee in the preparation of the laddus. He assured devotees that there will be no compromise on the quality, and reiterated that the sacred offering must meet the expectations of pilgrims in terms of both purity and taste.
The initiative comes after feedback from devotees who had raised concerns about the deteriorating quality of the laddu in recent years. Following this, the prasadam and ghee was sent for testing adulteration and it was found that the ghee used in the making of prasad was of substandard quality.
On Tirupati Prasadam row, Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said, "I am a devotee of Venkateswara Swami. The news coming in today is very unfortunate. It should be investigated. Guilty should be given strictest punishment. People's beliefs should not be hurt...We are demanding an inquiry...Action should definitely be taken...If laddu is adulterated, it is bad. If the reports are true, action should definitely be taken."