A major controversy has erupted surrounding the renowned <keyword id="23237741" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tirupati-laddu" source="keywords">Tirupati laddu</keyword>, a sacred offering from the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, after allegations surfaced about the use of animal fat in its preparation. The ruling Telugu Desam Party (<keyword id="19910623" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TDP" source="keywords">TDP</keyword>) has accused the previous <keyword id="19973324" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="YSR-Congress-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="YSR Congress Party" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="YSR Congress Party">YSR Congress Party</keyword> (YSRCP)-led government of adulterating the prasadam, a claim that has sent shockwaves through the Hindu community. <h2>The allegations</h2>The controversy began when TDP leader Nara Lokesh, son of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. <keyword id="19926151" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrababu-Naidu" source="keywords">Chandrababu Naidu</keyword>, raised accusations against the former YSRCP government, led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Lokesh alleged that during YSRCP's tenure (2019–2024), the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) used adulterated ingredients, including animal fat, in the preparation of the sacred Tirupati laddu. He stated, "The previous government maintained Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) solely for their own and their partners' welfare. We exposed substandard Tirumala laddu production using animal fat, supported by lab reports." Lokesh further emphasised that the TDP government has since taken corrective steps by appointing a new Executive Officer (EO) to manage TTD, ensuring that quality standards are upheld. "CM Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to maintain the quality of prasadam. The NDA government will bring new reforms to TTD and restore its past glory," he added. <h2>Lab report confirms presence of animal fat</h2>TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy shared findings from a Gujarat-based lab, NDDB CALF Ltd, which allegedly confirmed the use of <keyword id="23237743" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="beef-tallow" source="keywords">beef tallow</keyword>, lard (pig fat), and fish oil in the ghee samples provided by TTD during the YSRCP regime. The samples, collected in July 2024, were reportedly found to contain these animal-derived fats instead of pure cow ghee, sparking outrage among devotees. "The lab reports certify that beef tallow, animal fat, lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of ghee, which was supplied to Tirumala. This is an affront to the Hindu religion," Reddy stated. <h2>Political reactions and condemnations</h2>The allegations have stirred strong reactions across political lines. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu described the alleged adulteration as a grave insult to the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus. "Even Tirumala laddu was made with substandard ingredients... they used animal fat instead of ghee," he said while addressing the NDA legislature party meeting. Naidu’s son, Nara Lokesh, also took to social media to express his shock and condemnation, tweeting, "The Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the YSJagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam." On the other hand, Bhanuprakash Reddy, a former TTD Board Member and BJP leader, strongly condemned the use of animal fat in the revered prasadam and said that they would file a formal complaint against Jagan Mohan Reddy and other officials involved. "During Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure, TTD used pure cow ghee to prepare laddu. Unfortunately, that was adulterated with vegetable oil and animal fat. This is a very bad thing that happened in the history of Tirumala. We are very sad, and we condemn the issue," Bhanuprakash told ANI. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also demanded swift action against those responsible, with its national spokesperson, Vinod Bansal, calling the allegations a "serious issue" and asserting, "Punish those who used animal fat in Tirupati laddu prasadam." <h2>YSR Congress Party denies allegations</h2>Despite the lab reports and mounting political pressure, the YSRCP has vehemently denied the allegations. Senior party leader and former TTD chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy termed the claims "malicious" and accused the TDP of fabricating the issue for political gains. "TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu will stoop to any level for political gains. These allegations are nothing but an attempt to tarnish the previous government's image," Reddy said. While the TDP continues to push for accountability, the YSRCP remains firm in its stance, dismissing the claims as baseless. Amid the escalating controversy, K. Laxman, President of BJP OBC Morcha, has called for legal action, stating that the Hindu community’s sentiments have been deeply hurt. "The entire Hindu community all over the world condemns the action of the then government. We demand the present Chandrababu-led NDA government take firm legal action against the officials and persons concerned," Laxman asserted. As the scandal unfolds, devotees and political leaders alike await further clarity on the veracity of the lab reports and the actions that will be taken against those involved. For now, the TDP government has reassured devotees that pure cow ghee is once again being used in the preparation of the Tirupati laddu, a move aimed at restoring trust in the <keyword id="23244487" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sacred-prasadam" source="keywords">sacred prasadam</keyword>. (With inputs from agencies)

Tirupati laddu controversy: Gujarat lab confirms presence of various animal fats in the sacred prasadam — here’s all we know

New Delhi, A 108-foot-long incense stick, a 2,100-kg bell, a giant lamp weighing 1,100 kg, gold footwear, a 10-foot-high lock and key, and a clock that simultaneously denotes time in eight countries are among the special gifts sent for the Ram temple in Ayodhya ahead of the consecration ceremony on January 22. The artistes behind the unique gifts are hoping their gifts will be used at the grand temple. Adding to the religious fervour, the gifts are being received from all parts of the country and even abroad. More than 3,000 gifts for Lord Ram from Sita's birthplace in Janakpur in Nepal have arrived in Ayodhya. The gifts, including silver shoes, ornaments and clothes, were transported in a convoy of around 30 vehicles from the Janakpur Dham Ramjanaki Temple in Nepal to Ayodhya this week. A Sri Lankan delegation also visited Ayodhya with a special gift from the <keyword id="1325545" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ashok-vatika" source="Orion">Ashok Vatika</keyword>. The delegation presented a rock from the Ashok Vatika, a garden mentioned in the epic Ramayana where Ravan captivated Sita. The first phase of the temple is nearing completion and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the consecration ceremony at the temple on January 22. The Supreme Court delivered a historic verdict in 2019, settling a temple-mosque dispute that dated back more than a century. The court backed the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for building a mosque. Ahead of the grand ceremony, the temple authorities have been receiving numerous gifts. A 108-foot-long incense stick, which weighs 3,610 kg and is almost 3.5 feet wide, has been prepared in Gujarat's Vadodara over a period of six months. "The stick is environmental friendly and will last for about one-and-a-half months, spreading its fragrance over several kilometers," Vadodara resident Viha Bharwad, who has prepared the incense stick, told PTI. He said 376 kg guggul (gum resin), 376 kg coconut shells, 190 kg ghee, 1,470 kg cow dung, 420 kg herbs are among the ingredients used for the stick, whose height is nearly half of the iconic Qutab Minar in Delhi. Bharwad and 25 other devotees left Vadodara with the huge incense stick on January 1 and their convoy will reach Ayodhya on January 18. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel flagged off a 44-foot-long brass flag pole and other smaller six flag poles in Ahmedabad last week for the "pran pratistha" ceremony. Gujarat has also sent a nagaru (temple drum) crafted by the All India Dabgar Samaj in Dariyapur. The 56-inch nagaru made of gold foil will be installed in the courtyard of the temple. Satya Prakash Sharma, a locksmith from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, has prepared a lock and key weighing 400 kg with 10 feet height, 4.6 feet width and 9.5 inches thickness. "This is the world's largest lock and key. I have gifted it to the trust so it can be used as a symbolic lock at the temple," he told PTI. A bell weighing 2,100 kg made of 'ashtadhatu' (an alloy of eight metals) has been prepared in Etah's Jalesar in Uttar Pradesh. "It took two years to prepare the bell. The bell is being sent to Ayodhya after performing all rituals and with pomp and show," said an artisan involved in preparing the bell. A Lucknow-based vegetable vendor has especially designed a clock that denotes the time in eight countries at the same time. Anil Kumar Sahu (52) said he gifted the clock measuring 75 cm in diameter to Champat Rai, the general secretary of the temple trust. Sahu said that he first made the clock in 2018, and it was given the 'certificate of registration of design' by the Patent Office, Government of India. The clock denotes the time of India, Tokyo (Japan), Moscow (Russia), Dubai (UAE), Beijing (China), Singapore, Mexico City (Mexico), Washington DC and New York (US). Chef Vishnu Manohar, who is based in Nagpur, has announced that he will prepare 7,000 kg of "Ram Halwa", a traditional sweet dish, for the devotees who will attend the consecration ceremony. The Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan in Mathura is preparing to send 200 kilograms of laddu to Ayodhya as an offering for a 'yagya'. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the official custodian of Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, has also announced it will send one lakh laddu for distribution to devotees on the big day. A special saree prepared in Gujarat's Surat city, a major textile hub of the country, will be sent to the templ authorities. The saree, with pictures of Lord Ram and the Ayodhya temple printed on it, is meant for Lord Ram's wife Sita, reverentially known as Ma Janaki, and the first piece was offered to a temple in Surat on Sunday. A diamond merchant from Surat has made a necklace on the theme of the Ram temple using 5,000 American diamonds and 2 kg silver. Forty artisans completed the design in 35 days and the necklace has been gifted to the Ram Mandir trust. With an unwavering devotion towards Lord Ram and a desire to fulfil his 'kar sevak' father's dream, 64-year-old Challa Srinivas Sastry from Hyderabad has reached Ayodhya on foot, covering a distance of nearly 8,000 km, to present gold-plated footwear for the lord. Arvindbhai Mangalbhai Patel, a farmer residing in Vadodara, has crafted a giant lamp weighing 1,100 kg. "The lamp is 9.25 feet high and 8 feet wide. It has a capacity for 851 kg of ghee. The lamp is made from 'panchadhatu' (gold, silver, copper, zinc and iron)," Patel said.

Gold footwear, giant lamps & bells, 108-ft-long incense sticks among gifts sent to Ayodhya temple

Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Feb 27 (): The Board of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD) that governs the shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala Hills, near here, on Saturday approved a Rs 2,938-crore budget for 2021-22. The budget proposals foresee a total revenue of about Rs 2,938 crore, a top functionary of the TTD said. After a board meeting on the hills, TTD Board chairman YV Subba Reddy told reporters that of the total expected revenue, the cash offerings to be made by devotees were likely to be around Rs 1,131 crore during the fiscal. The revenue from the interest on deposits in nationalised and private banks was estimated to be about Rs 533 crore, he said. The laddu prasadam sale was expected fetch about Rs 375 crore, he said. The sale of tickets for various forms of worship tickets, including daily and weekly rituals in the temple, special entry tickets of VIPs and the online tickets priced at Rs 300 could get Rs 280 crore, he said. The revenue from the TTD accommodations and marriage halls allotted to devotees was estimated to be around Rs 93 crore, he said. The earnings from the auction on human hair to be offered by devotees as a fulfilment of their vows were likely to be Rs 131 crore, he said. About Rs 1,308 crore was expected to be paid on human resources rendering services in TTD, he said. COR NVG NVG

TTD approves Rs 2,938-crore budget for 2021-22

Tirupati, Feb 29 (): Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD) that governs the world famous shrine of LordVenkateswara at Tirumala Hills, near here, on Saturdaypresented its budget for 2020-2021.The budget proposals envisage a total revenue ofabout Rs 3,310 crore during the fiscal year, a top TTDofficial said.Of the total income, the cash offerings made bydevotees were projected at Rs 1,351 crore, TTD chairman YVSubba Reddy told mediapersons on the Hills.The revenue from the interest on deposits innationalised and private banks was estimated to be about Rs706 crore, he said.The sale of tickets for various forms of worship,including daily and weekly rituals in the temple, specialentry tickets of VIPs and the online tickets priced at Rs 300could get Rs 302 crore while the laddu 'prasadam' might amountto about Rs 400 crore, he said.The earnings from the auction on human hair to beoffered by millions of devotees, including the aged, women andinfants, as fulfillment of their vow were likely to be Rs106.7 crore, he said.The revenue from the TTD accommodations andmarriage halls allotted to devotees was estimated to be aroundRs 110 crore, he said.About Rs 250 crore was expected to be spent on newconstruction of pilgrims' amenities, taking up repair andlaying of roads, he said. CORNVG NVG

TTD presents Rs 3,310-crore budget for 2020-21

<ul><li>There are 2,559 active cases of <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> in Andhra Pradesh.</li><li>So far, 2,906 patients have recovered, including an 85-year-old woman from Anantapur.</li><li>A majority of the the cases are from Kurnool, Guntur, Nellore and Krishna districts. </li></ul>Andhra Pradesh has reported 275 new cases of Coronavirus on June 17, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 5,555. Andhra Pradesh has reported 2 new deaths in the state, taking the total toll in the state to 90. On June 17, 55 persons were discharged from hospitals, resulting in a cumulative tally of 2,906 cured persons in Andhra Pradesh. With this, the number of active cases stands at 2,559. The state nodal officer reported that 15,188 samples were tested during the past 24 hours. <table style="width: 540pt;"> <colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><col /> <col /> <col /> <col /> <tbody><tr> <td class="xl63" style="height: 14.4pt; width: 74pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left: 0.5pt solid black; background: black;">State</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 175pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Total Cases</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 179pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Active Cases</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 56pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Cured</td> <td class="xl63" style="width: 56pt; font-size: 11pt; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right: 0.5pt solid black; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: black;">Death</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl63" style="height: 14.4pt; font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left: 0.5pt solid black; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">Andhra Pradesh</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">5,555</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">2,559</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right-width: initial; border-right-style: none; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">2,906</td> <td class="xl63" style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border-top: 0.5pt solid black; border-right: 0.5pt solid black; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; background: rgb(217, 217, 217);">90</td> </tr></tbody></table> Note: The Andhra Pradesh government has not included the 1,516 patients from other states and foreign returnees that were earlier included in the total cases. The Andhra Pradesh government has been releasing bulletins on <a href="https://twitter.com/ArogyaAndhra">Twitter</a>. Apart from information about the steps taken by the government to control the disease, information about the patients, including their recent travel history is also posted here. Covid-19 crisis forces budget outlay cut on Andhra Major economic slowdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has forced the Andhra Pradesh government to cut down the budget size for 2020-21 by 1.4 per cent over the previous financial year. Finance Minister B. Rajendranath on Tuesday presented a Rs 2.24 lakh crore budget in the Assembly. He proposed an expenditure of Rs 2,24,789 crore, comprising Rs 1,80,392 crore revenue expenditure and Rs 44,396 crore capital expenditure. The estimated revenue deficit is around Rs 18,434 crore and the fiscal deficit is estimated at around Rs 48,295 crore. The fiscal deficit will be around 4.78 per cent of the GSDP, whereas the revenue deficit will be around 1.82 per cent of the GSDP. Four-month-old baby recovers from Covid in Andhra A four-month-old baby in Andhra Pradesh has recovered from Covid-19, after being on ventilator for 18 days, officials said. The recovery, which is sure to give hope to many battling the dreaded virus, happened in Visakhapatnam. The baby, who had picked up the virus from her mother, was discharged from Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) late on Friday. Tirupathi receives ₹25.7 lakh donations on first day The world's richest Hindu shrine managed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) saw offerings to the tune of ₹25.7 lakh pour in on Monday, when its doors were opened for the devotees, about 80 days after they were shut in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. People freely move around in Andhra sans masks in Unlock 1.0 On a day when lockdown measures were relaxed and businesses opened up, the common public in Andhra Pradesh were seen moving freely, most of them without a mask, with Unlock 1.0 entering its second week on Monday. "Most people are not wearing masks. People are moving around freely, both on foot and on vehicles," Anil Kumar Govada, who drove from Kalla Mandal in West Godavari district to Vuyyuru in Krishna district on Monday morning, covering a distance of 78 km, told IANS. "I have seen some devotees at a temple in Singarayipalem in Krishna district," said Kumar about the village which is enroute Gudivada town. Andhra deploys IBM Watson chatbot to answer Covid-19 queries The Andhra Pradesh National Health Mission portal has integrated the IBM Watson virtual agent to help the residents quickly get answers to their queries about Covid-19. The chatbot is designed to understand and respond to common questions about Covid-19 in English, Telugu and Hindi, IBM said on Thursday. The virtual agent is deployed in a web browser and it is built in a way that it safeguards the privacy of the users, the company added. Tirumala temple to hold 'trial run of darshan' with limited devotees The Andhra Pradesh government has given nod to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) to conduct a trial run of 'darshan' at the Tirumala temple with TTD employees and local devotees. On a request by the TTD, which manages the affairs of the world's richest Hindu temple, the state government accorded the permission with the concurrence of the department of health and family welfare. In a memo issued by JSV Prasad, Special Chief Secretary to the state government, the TTD will hold a "trial run for TTD employees and local public of Tirumala, with limited number of people duly ensuring physical distance of 6 feet at all times and all points". Andhra Secretariat employee tests positive, two blocks shut An employee of Andhra Pradesh Secretariat has tested positive for Covid-19, prompting the authorities to shut down two blocks on Monday and advise 84 employees to work from home for next two weeks. Employees working in blocks 3 and 4 were directed not to come to the secretariat and were instead advised to work from home for 14 days. Health authorities took up disinfectant operations in the entire premises including the two blocks. The infected Secretariat employee, who works in the Agriculture Department, had, along with many others, returned last week to Amaravati from Hyderabad, where they were stranded during the lockdown period. AP procures record quantities of agri-produce Despite the Covid-19 outbreak and the restrictions brought about by the nationwide lockdown since March 24, the Andhra Pradesh government has managed to procure record quantities of agricultural produce and help farmers of the state cope with the economic uncertainty. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Tuesday that Rs 1,100 crore was spent on procurements during the Covid-19 lockdown alone, which is half of the overall money spent during the last eight months Tirumala temple to sell laddus at 50% discount With uncertainty continuing as to when the darshan will resume, Sri Venkateswara temple authorities on Wednesday decided to sell 'Tirupati laddu Prasadam' or the sacred offering among devotees at 50 per cent discount across Andhra Pradesh and in state capitals of neighbouring states. The laddu, weighing 175 grams, will be sold for ₹25, against its actual price of ₹50 in normal days. Woman refuses entry to husband without Covid-19 test The surging fears and stigma over coronavirus infection forced a woman in Andhra Pradesh to refuse entry to her husband in the house, till he underwent Covid-19 test. The incident occurred in Venkatagiri in Nellore district when the man stuck in Nellore since the lockdown began finally returned to his hometown. The man, working in a gold shop in Nellore, was stranded there since lockdown was enforced last month. He finally succeeded in reaching Venkatagiri on Wednesday. However, his wife asked him to first undergo the screening for coronavirus before entering the house. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-hyderabad-telangana-news-and-updates/articleshow/74823424.cms">Coronavirus cases in Telangana</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-gujarat-news-and-updates/articleshow/74830845.cms">Coronavirus cases in Gujarat</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-cases-in-bihar-news-and-updates/articleshow/74833815.cms">Coronavirus cases in Bihar</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-patient-cases-in-uttar-pradesh-news-and-updates/articleshow/74833735.cms">Coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh</a>

You Searched For "Tirupati laddu" and got 5 results

Tirupati laddu controversy: Gujarat lab confirms presence of various animal fats in the sacred prasadam — here’s all we know

BI India Bureau

Gold footwear, giant lamps & bells, 108-ft-long incense sticks among gifts sent to Ayodhya temple

PTI

TTD approves Rs 2,938-crore budget for 2021-22

PTI

TTD presents Rs 3,310-crore budget for 2020-21

PTI

Andhra Pradesh Coronavirus cases rise to 5,555, 90 dead and 2,906 recovered till June 17

Rounak Jain