Tirupati laddu row: Calls for reform in offerings from Ayodhya, Mathura

The controversy over the alleged adulteration of Tirupati Temple laddus has sparked reactions from Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, with calls for reform in the preparation and distribution of 'prasad'. In Ayodhya, the chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Satyendra Das, demanded a "complete ban" on prasad prepared by external agencies. He expressed concerns over the purity of ghee used in temple offerings, urging that "all prasad should be prepared under the supervision of temple priests". "The controversy over the alleged use of fat and meat in Tirupati Balaji's prasad is escalating across the country," Das noted, emphasising the need for stringent inspections of the quality of oil and ghee sold nationwide. He alleged that there was an international conspiracy to desecrate temples by mixing inappropriate substances in offerings. In Mathura, the Dharma Raksha Sangh announced its decision to revert to the "ancient style" of 'prasadam' recipes, replacing ...