Controversy over Tirupati Balaji’s Laddu
The temple in which people have the most faith of Hindus, Tirupati Balaji temple was devastated in such a way that the entire Hindu society was shaken. The government was shaken and the entire political career of a former Chief Minister (Jaganmogan Reddy) was at stake. Do you know why all this happened?
Insistence on buying ghee at the rate of 320 rupees
Because a government and its officers were adamant that they had to buy ghee only at the rate of Rs 320. The ghee that was bought in the pursuit of cheapness was found to have less ghee and more animal fat. The fat has hurt faith so much that now the devotees are crying out.
Amazing divine taste of laddus
Tirupati Balaji’s laddu is said to be the prasad of God himself. It has a wonderful divine taste. It is claimed that such laddus are not made anywhere else. Such laddus are not available anywhere else. It is also said that if you do not accept the prasad of these laddus, you do not get the virtue of visiting Tirupati Balaji.
Animal fat mixed in laddus
These divine laddoos of Balaji have now been adulterated. The allegation is that animal fat was mixed in Balaji’s laddoos. Lakhs of devotees of Balaji kept eating the adulterated laddoos as prasad for months. These allegations have not been made by any random person. These allegations have been made by the Chief Minister of the state Chandrababu Naidu. As proof, the CM has given two reports of scientific labs.
Taste changed due to adulteration in laddu
The lab report of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) states that foreign fat has been found in the ghee sample from Tirupati. Foreign fat means,
- Soybean oil
- Sunflower oil
- olive oil
- Rapeseed or canola oil
- Linseed oil
- wheat germ
- corn seeds
- Cotton Seed Oil
- Coconut Fat
- Palm Kernel Fat
Possibility of pig fat too
Foreign fats contain all these. Their presence has not hurt the faith of Hindus much. But as soon as the possibility of fish oil, beef tallow and lard in Tirupati’s Laddu Prasadam being present, it has created a ruckus.
- The question is who has adulterated Balaji’s laddu?
- Who put animal fat in Balaji’s laddu?
- Who mixed fish oil in Balaji’s laddu?
How are these laddus made?
Before understanding this news which hurts the sentiments of crores of Hindus, it is important to understand how Balaji’s Laddus are made?
- Besan or gram lentil fine powder
- Desi Ghee
- Cashew
- Raisin
- Saffron
- Almond
- Cardamom
- Amla and other dry fruits
The method of making Balaji’s laddu or prasadam is the same as making normal laddus. This does not mean that every laddu becomes Balaji’s prasadam. The most special thing about Tirupati’s prasadam is the process of making it.
A team of 600 Brahmins prepare laddus in the kitchen
A team of 600 Brahmins prepare laddus in the kitchen
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TDD) kitchen, which is called pottu in the local language. Balaji’s bhog laddus are made only in the kitchen of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. For this, a team of 600 Brahmins work in shifts day and night. Three and a half lakh laddus are made here daily. 800 kg of cashew nuts and 600 kg of raisins are consumed daily.
Saffron is imported from Kashmir
Every single ingredient for making Balaji’s laddu is brought with utmost care. Even the water for mixing gram flour is taken from a special pond in Tirupati. Saffron is brought from Kashmir. Dry fruits are bought from Rajasthan and Kerala. Cardamom especially comes from Kerala.
The recipe has not changed for 300 years
The recipe of making these Balaji Laddus has not changed for the last 300 years. In 2009, Tirupati Laddus have also received the GI tag. This means that Tirupati Laddus have a unique identity. It can be prepared only in Tirumala Venkateswara Temple.
Tirupati Balaji’s laddus are made in 3 different sizes
- Proktam Laddus- They weigh 40 grams. These laddus are given free to all the devotees who leave after the darshan.
- Sthanam Laddu- Its weight is 175 grams. Almonds, cashews, raisins and saffron are used in abundance in it. One of these laddus is available for 50 rupees.
- A third laddu is also made- Kalyanotsavam laddu- This laddu is given to the devotees who participate in Arjita Seva and Kalyanotsavam. It weighs about 750 grams and costs Rs 200.
Mandir’s own quality control team
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board has its own quality control team. Balaji has an internal team in its kitchen, which is called the sensory team. The members of this sensory team are trained by the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI).
Prasad is not tested by tasting it
The Prasad offered to God cannot be tested by tasting it, so the people of the sensory team control the quality of the Laddu Prasad by looking at it and smelling it. This sensory team was the first to report that the taste of the laddus had started changing since July 2023. At the same time, now the tampering with faith regarding these laddus has come to light.
