Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has promised to restore the quality of laddus at Sri Venkateswara Temple immediately. The board has said that now the services of a new ghee vendor from Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) will be taken for the ghee used in laddus. This decision has been taken after the controversy in which allegations of animal fat being found in the laddus led to a major political controversy in the state.
“There will be no compromise on the quality of laddus and the ghee used in them,” TTD Executive Officer J. Shyamala Rao told the media on Saturday. The TTD on Saturday temporarily stopped the use of cow ghee and milk products in other prasads. The TTD kitchen, called ‘pottu’, is now being supplied with the famous Nandini brand ghee. The Nandini brand is the flagship brand of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). The brand is mainly famous for milk and milk products such as ghee, butter, curd, cheese, etc. Nandini brand products are popular across India including Karnataka and are in great demand among consumers due to its quality and reliability. KMF is one of the largest milk producing unions in India and supplies high-quality dairy products under the Nandini brand. More than 73,000 pilgrims visited the temple on Friday.
Ghee stock is also being accumulated for the upcoming Brahmotsavam, which will be held from October 4 to 12. Lakhs of devotees are expected to attend the grand annual festival. Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh Naidu, while speaking to the Indian Express, said, “A new vendor like KMF is ready to supply the best quality ghee. We do not anticipate any crisis in the supply of ghee.” Muni Ratnam, the kitchen in-charge of the temple, said that the temple maintains a stock of 8-9 lakh laddus daily during the religious event. 7-8 lakh devotees are expected to visit the temple during Brahmotsavam, and adequate stock of ghee is being prepared for the laddus.
The TTD on Saturday temporarily stopped the use of cow ghee-based products for other prasads, called “Srivari Prasadam”. According to sources, a committee of the TTD found a deficiency in the quality of raw materials used in the preparation of free food or “anna prasadam”, following which all supplies have been temporarily suspended. New vendors are being arranged and the committee members will also take daily feedback from pilgrims.
Meanwhile, the TTD has issued traffic advisories in view of the possibility of heavy rush of pilgrims during Brahmotsavam. Two-wheelers will not be allowed on the ghat roads of the temple from October 7 to 9. The TTD has advised pilgrims to leave their personal vehicles in Tirupati and use APSRTC buses to avoid traffic problems.