Devotee alleges tobacco found in Tirupati laddu, shares video amid controversy over animal fat
PTC News Desk: A devotee has raised alarm after claiming to find tobacco wrapped in paper inside a laddu received as prasadam (religious offering) at the renowned Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. This revelation adds another layer to the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations of animal fat being present in the laddus, which has already sparked significant political tension in Andhra Pradesh.
Donthu Padmavati, a resident of Khammam district, made the discovery following her visit to the temple on September 19. Like many other devotees, she had brought back the prasadam to share with her family and neighbours. “As I was about to distribute the laddu, I was horrified to find pieces of tobacco wrapped in a small paper,” Padmavati recounted, expressing her shock and dismay. “The prasadam is supposed to be sacred, and to find such contamination is heartbreaking,” she added.
This revelation has sent shockwaves through the vast community of Tirupati devotees, coming on the heels of serious allegations regarding the use of animal fat in the ghee used to prepare the laddus. The Tirupati laddu, a highly revered offering, has long symbolised purity and devotion for millions of pilgrims.
However, these recent claims have raised concerns about the quality control measures employed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the trust responsible for the temple’s management.
What is the controversy?
The controversy gained momentum after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed last week that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, had been found in the laddus served as prasadam at the Tirupati temple during the tenure of the previous government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy. Citing a private lab report from Gujarat, Naidu alleged the presence of “beef tallow,” “lard” (pig fat), and fish oil in the ghee used for the laddus.
In response to these allegations, former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy firmly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that no violations occurred during his administration. Reddy accused Naidu of engaging in “politics in the name of God,” labeling him as “a pathological and habitual liar.”
As the debate over the integrity of the sacred prasadam continues, many devotees are left questioning the safety and purity of the offerings they receive at one of the world’s most visited temples.