Yadagirigutta temple sends ghee samples for testing amid adulteration concerns

HYDERABAD: Following reports of alleged ghee adulteration in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the authorities of the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Yadagirigutta have taken precautionary steps by sending ghee samples used in the preparation of prasadam to a food laboratory in Hyderabad.

Tests are being conducted to determine if the ghee used in the temple’s laddu production is adulterated, with results expected by the end of this month, according to temple Executive Officer Bhaskar Rao.

The temple has been using ghee from the Normoil brand for the past 40 years, consuming approximately 20,000 to 25,000 kilograms of ghee monthly. Each laddu contains about 90 to 100 grams of ghee. Other ingredients like cardamom powder, cashew nuts, raisins, sugar syrup, and boondi are sourced freshly for preparation, ensuring quality. Experienced cooks oversee the process to maintain the high standards of the prasadam distributed to devotees.

Since the reopening of the Yadagirigutta temple, advanced machinery has been used in prasadam preparation, ensuring minimal human intervention. The modern equipment, worth Rs 13.8 crore, was procured from Chennai, Pune, Haryana, Mumbai, and Rajahmundry under the previous government. Machines like boondi fryers, sugar syrup makers, dal pulverizers, and grinding machines prepare laddus.

In March 2022, the central government recognised the temple's hygiene and quality standards by awarding it the 'BHOG' (Blissful Hygienic Offering to God) certificate, making it the first temple in Telangana to receive this certification.