The controversy surrounding the alleged adulteration of Tirupati Temple laddus has ignited a wave of reactions across prominent religious centres in Uttar Pradesh, with demands for reforms in the preparation and distribution of temple offerings, or ‘prasad.’
In Ayodhya, the chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Satyendra Das, voiced concerns over the quality of offerings, demanding a "complete ban" on prasad prepared by external agencies.
His statement came amid allegations that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were being used in the famous Tirupati laddus.
“The controversy over the alleged use of fat and meat in Tirupati Balaji’s prasad is escalating across the country,” Das said, adding that all prasad should be prepared under the supervision of temple priests to ensure its purity.
He called for stricter inspections of the ghee and oil used in prasad preparation, fearing an international conspiracy aimed at desecrating temples by mixing inappropriate substances in religious offerings.
In Mathura, the Dharma Raksha Sangh has responded by taking steps to return to traditional methods of preparing ‘prasadam.’
Saurabh Gaur, the national president of the Sangh, announced that temple offerings would now consist of natural ingredients such as fruits and flowers, moving away from commercially produced sweets.
"A consensus has been reached among religious leaders and organisations to return to the ancient practices of offering and accepting pure, Satvik Prasadam," Gaur said.
Meanwhile, in Prayagraj’s prominent temples, including Alop Shankari Devi, Bade Hanuman, and Mankameshwar, several priests have imposed restrictions on devotees bringing commercially prepared sweets as offerings.
Shiv Murat Mishra, the chief priest of Lalita Devi Temple, announced that the temple would now only accept fruits, coconuts, and dry fruits until the purity of processed sweets is verified.
"Until the purity of the sweets is clear in the investigation, they will not be allowed to be offered in the temple," said Mahant Shridharanand Brahmachari Ji Maharaj of the Mankameshwar Temple, in response to the growing concerns.
Similar sentiments were echoed at Prayagraj’s Alop Shankari Devi Temple, where chief patron Yamuna Puri Maharaj confirmed that devotees would no longer be permitted to bring outside prasad.
The Bade Hanuman Temple, located along the Sangam coast, also announced plans to prepare its own ‘laddu-peda’ prasad after the construction of its temple corridor, said Mahant Balbir Giri Ji Maharaj, the temple’s patron.
These calls for reform are not confined to Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Mathura. In Lucknow, the management of the Mankameshwar Temple recently banned devotees from bringing offerings purchased from outside, allowing only homemade prasad or fruits.
The controversy has political roots as well, after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the Tirupati laddus were being prepared with substandard ingredients, including animal fat, during the tenure of the previous government.
The YSR Congress Party swiftly refuted the claims, accusing Naidu of making baseless allegations for political gain. The Andhra Pradesh government has since constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe these allegations.
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