Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, confirmed that laddoos from the Tirupati temple were distributed as prasadam during the Pran Prathistha ceremony held on January 22, 2024. The ceremony, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was attended by over 8,000 dignitaries, and more than one lakh laddoos were dispatched by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
The remarks come amidst a controversy surrounding claims that animal fat was allegedly found in laddoos served at the Tirupati temple. Acharya Satyendra Das expressed concern over these reports, stating they could be part of a “dangerous conspiracy.” However, he did not specify how many laddoos were brought for the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the Ram Temple, clarified that only cardamom seeds were distributed as prasadam during the consecration ceremony. Champat Rai, general secretary of the trust, said they are awaiting the Central Government’s investigation report on the Tirupati laddoos.
The controversy has prompted several temples across India, including Ayodhya’s Hanuman Garhi temple, to verify the quality of the prasadam being offered. Authorities at the Hanuman Garhi temple assured that only laddoos made with branded desi ghee are served as prasadam, with regular purity checks conducted.
