Tirumala temple performs ritual cleansing amid Tirupati laddu controversy | VIDEO

New Delhi: The renowned Sri Venkateswara Swami temple in Tirumala, Tirupati, underwent a four-hour ritualistic cleansing on Monday following allegations of sacrilegious practices, including the mixing of animal fats in the preparation of sacred Laddu Prasadam.

According to reports, the Shanti Homam Panchagavya Prokshana ritual was conducted from 6 am to 10 am to restore the sanctity of the temple. The ritual was intended to counteract the alleged desecration that occurred during the tenure of the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao said the ceremony was necessary to "ward off the ill effects" and ensure the well-being of devotees.

#AndhraPradesh----

TTD organised Maha Shanti Homam at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple complex at #Tirumala, to cleanse the shrine and restore the sanctity of laddu prasadam. pic.twitter.com/GSQhbDuODl

— NewsMeter (@NewsMeter_In) September 23, 2024

Allegations of adulteration in temple prasadam

On September 19, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSRCP government of allowing ghee used in the preparation of Tirupati Laddus to be adulterated with animal fat. Lab tests allegedly revealed the presence of "beef tallow," lard, and fish oil in samples of the ghee supplied for the prasadam. In response, the TTD has initiated the process of blacklisting the contractor responsible for providing the adulterated ghee.

The Andhra Pradesh government announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter thoroughly. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed the allegations, describing them as politically motivated. In an eight-page letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Reddy accused Naidu of spreading falsehoods to hurt the religious sentiments of millions for political gain. Reddy called for Naidu to be reprimanded, emphasizing the importance of revealing the truth behind the claims.