Pawan Kalyan Begins 11-Day Penance to Restore Dharma Over Animal Fat in Tirupati Laddus
Kalyan expressed shock and guilt upon learning that the prasadam contained animal remains.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has initiated an 11-day ‘Prayashchitta Diksha’ to atone for the alleged use of animal fat in the laddus offered at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala.
In a post on X, he called the failure to detect this adulteration a “stain on the Hindu race” and began the initiation on September 22 at the Sri Dashavatara Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Nambur.
Kalyan expressed shock and guilt upon learning that the prasadam contained animal remains, urging followers of Sanatana Dharma to atone for the injustice to Balaji, the god of Kali Yuga.
He condemned the previous government led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, referring to them as “demonic rulers,” and expressed disappointment that TTD officials failed to identify the issues.
Kalyan has previously accused the YSRCP government of allowing illicit activities that compromised the temple's sanctity.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) alleged that the ghee used in Tirupati laddus contained beef tallow and lard, supported by lab reports.
The TTD acknowledged these claims, stating that suppliers exploited the lack of in-house testing.
TTD Executive Officer Shyamala Rao confirmed presnce of animal fat in some samples.