A devotee from Telangana’s Khammam district has raised serious concerns about the sacred Tirupati laddu, alleging that she found bits of tobacco wrapped in paper inside the prasadam she brought home. The incident comes amid an ongoing controversy over the use of animal fat in the preparation of sacred offerings.
Donthu Padmavati, a resident of Kartikeya Township in Gollagudem Panchayat, reported that she discovered the tobacco after her visit to the Tirumala temple on September 19. Like many other devotees, Padmavati brought back the Tirupati laddu to share with her family and neighbours as a symbol of divine blessings.
“When I opened the laddu to distribute it, I was horrified to find pieces of tobacco wrapped in a small paper,” Padmavati shared, expressing her deep disappointment. “The prasadam is supposed to be sacred, and to find such contamination is heartbreaking.”
The revelation has sent shockwaves through the devotee community, particularly as it follows recent allegations that animal fat may have been used in the preparation of the laddoos. The Tirupati laddu, a much-revered offering, has long been a symbol of purity and devotion for millions of pilgrims. However, these recent claims have led to growing doubts about the quality control measures in place at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the trust responsible for managing the temple.
WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY?
The controversy came under the spotlight after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed last week that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were discovered in the laddus served as prasad at Tirupati temple during the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government.
Referring to a private lab report from Gujarat, Naidu alleged the presence of “beef tallow,” “lard” (relating to pig fat) and fish oil in the ghee.
However, former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy denied the claims, stating that no violation occurred under his regime. Reddy also blamed Naidu for doing “politics in the name of God,” and called the Chief Minister “a pathological and habitual liar.”