Amid Animal Fat Controversy, 14 Lakh Tirupati Laddoos Sold in 4 Days Despite Political Row
Hyderabad: The ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in the iconic Tirupati laddoos has ignited a political storm in Andhra Pradesh. However, this has not impacted the sales of the beloved prasad at Sri Venkateshwara Temple, which draws over 60,000 pilgrims daily.
Despite the allegations, the temple administration reported that over 14 lakh Tirupati laddoos were sold within four days. Sales figures show 3.59 lakh laddoos sold on September 19, 3.17 lakh on September 20, 3.67 lakh on September 21, and 3.60 lakh on September 22. These numbers are consistent with the temple’s daily average of 3.50 lakh laddoos.
When asked about the controversy, a devotee named Venkateshwar Rao told NDTV, “Our faith is too strong to be shaken.” Other devotees echoed his sentiment, stating that the debate over the laddoos is now “a thing of the past.”
The temple prepares over 3 lakh laddoos daily, which pilgrims purchase in large quantities to share with friends and family. The key ingredients in the Tirupati laddoo include Bengal gram, cow ghee, sugar, cashews, raisins, and almonds. The preparation process uses a staggering 15,000 kg of cow ghee each day.
The temple became the center of controversy after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the ghee used for preparing the laddoos during the previous YSRCP regime contained animal fat. In response, the state government has launched a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter.
Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, whose YSRCP party was ousted in the recent state elections, accused the ruling TDP of politicizing religious issues. Reddy defended the procurement process, explaining that the temple follows strict guidelines, with suppliers required to submit an NABL certificate and product quality certification. “The TTD collects samples of the ghee, and only certified products are used,” Reddy said, calling Naidu a “pathological and habitual liar.”
