Purification Ceremony at Tirupati Temple Amidst Ghee Controversy

The Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, held a purification ceremony on Monday amidst controversy over the presence of animal fats—namely fish oil, beef tallow, and lard—in the ghee used for its famous laddoos offered to the deity and devotees.

A dedicated group of priests conducted a 'maha shani homam' to cleanse the temple of the alleged impurities and restore the sanctity of the laddoos as 'prasadam.' Syamala Rao, Executive Officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, shared that the four-hour ritual emphasized the kitchen responsible for producing the laddoos and implemented a new procurement process for 'pure cow ghee,' enhancing the flavor of the offerings.

The situation intensified when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's party spotlighted lab results indicating animal fats in the temple's ghee. Naidu has called for a police investigation and stated that non-Hindus would be excluded from temple management.

Accusations have also been directed at former TTD Chairperson Bhumana Karunakar Reddy and former Executive Officer Dharma Reddy for alleged mismanagement. Reddy countered the claims, stating that a tanker of potentially adulterated ghee had been rejected based on stringent quality tests.

In response to the unfolding drama, Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan began an 11-day fast as a form of penance, questioning the lack of national outrage and suggesting that similar issues involving other religions would provoke a stronger reaction. The central government has requested a comprehensive report on the matter, while a public interest litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court regarding the alleged use of animal fat in the ghee.

The temple kitchen is known for producing approximately 300,000 laddoos daily, utilizing around 1,500 kg of ghee sourced from a supplier in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.