Andhra government seeks report from Tirupati temple trust amid laddoo row

The Andhra Pradesh government has directed Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer (EO) Shyamala Rao to submit a detailed report on the ghee controversy surrounding the Tirupati temple’s laddoo prasadam.

This directive comes amid a row over allegations of animal fat being found in the famous temple’s laddoos.

On Friday, Shyamala Rao stated that five laboratory tests were conducted following accusations of animal fat contamination in the laddoos. The tests confirmed contamination of several ingredients, revealing that the laddoos were “pathetic” and heavily adulterated with lard (pig fat).

The officer further noted that the quality of the ghee used was extremely poor. Suppliers had reportedly taken advantage of the temple’s lack of an in-house testing facility for adulteration, and the temple body had not utilised external testing services.

The TTD Executive Officer is scheduled to meet with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu today to submit the report. The government will decide on further actions after consultations with Agama, Vedic, and Dharmic Parishad leaders.

Based on the report, Dharmic Parishad leaders will decide whether to conduct temple purification and consecration rituals as recommended.

A major controversy erupted on Thursday after Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the previous YSRCP government, under Jagan Mohan Reddy, compromised the sanctity of the Sri Venkateswara temple by using substandard ingredients and animal fat in the laddoos. A subsequent lab report confirmed the presence of animal fat in the prasadam distributed to devotees.