The controversy surrounding the preparation of Tirupati laddoos has escalated, with various political and religious leaders weighing in on the issue. A major dispute erupted on Wednesday after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu alleged that animal fat was used in the laddoos during the previous government under YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s leadership.
In response, Reddy’s party, the YSRCP, accused Naidu of making “heinous allegations” for political gain.
Significance of the Sacred Laddoo
The Tirupati Laddoo, also known as the ‘Srivari Laddoo,’ has been the primary offering at the temple for over 300 years. It is believed to be the favorite naivedyam (offering) of Lord Venkateswara.
Reports suggest that the prasad laddoo from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the renowned Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, stays fresh for up to 15 days due to advanced packaging techniques.
A 2015 study published by World Wide Journals revealed that the Tirupati laddoo is made daily with nearly one tonne of besan flour, 10 tonnes of sugar, 700 kg of cashews, 150 kg of cardamom, 300 to 500 litres of ghee, 500 kg of sugar candy, and 540 kg of raisins.
The mastermind behind establishing the ‘laddoo empire’ at Tirupati was Kalyanam Iyengar, who made the laddoo synonymous with the temple. He passed down this tradition to his son, brother, and brother-in-law. Iyengar’s culinary skills are credited with making laddoos the mainstay of the prasadam in the divine Tirumala hills.
Until 2001, TTD staff themselves prepared the laddoos. However, as the number of devotees grew, so did the need for more laddoos. To meet this demand, the temple authorities set up a potu, or ‘The Lord’s Kitchen,’ where the prasadam was made using firewood.
Despite these efforts, the number of laddoos produced was still less than half of the demand, leading to the creation of an additional kitchen to produce 70,000 more laddoos daily.
Types of Laddoos Offered at Tirumala
There are three types of laddoos generally prepared and offered as prasadam at Tirupati: the Asthanam Laddoo, Kalyanosthavam Laddoo, and Proktham Laddoo.
Asthanam Laddoos are prepared on special festive occasions and distributed to distinguished guests, including Presidents and Prime Ministers from India and other countries. These laddoos typically weigh around 750 grams each.
Kalyanotsavam Laddoos are given to those participating in the Kalyanotsavam ceremony (a special religious ritual for Lord Malayappa and his consorts, accompanied by Vedic hymns) and to Arjitha Seva Grihastas, performed every Saturday where flowers are offered, and the Samaveda is recited.
Proktham Laddoos are smaller in size, weighing about 175 grams, and are distributed to all pilgrims visiting the Tirumala Temple.
The Laddoo Controversy – Chandrababu Naidu’s Allegations
During an NDA legislative party meeting, Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous government, led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, of using substandard ingredients and animal fat in the preparation of laddoos at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati.
TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy, during a press conference, claimed that adulteration had been confirmed by a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory, based on ghee samples provided by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
He presented the purported lab report, which allegedly confirmed the presence of ‘beef tallow,’ lard, and fish oil in the ghee samples.
Reacting to this, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh, son of Chandrababu Naidu, stated that the lab reports clearly showed that beef fat, fish oil, and lard were used in the preparation of the laddoos.
Lokesh emphasized that Chief Minister Naidu had revealed these findings on Wednesday and supported them with “evidence” during the press conference.
“Tirumala’s Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple is our most sacred shrine. I am appalled to learn that under YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s administration, animal fat was used instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam,” Nara Lokesh posted on X (formerly Twitter).
On Friday, BJP chief JP Nadda stated that he had spoken with Chandrababu Naidu to gather more information about the situation.
“I spoke to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and requested details. I asked him to provide any available reports. We will also consult the state regulator, and appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI),” Nadda said.
What Does the Lab Report State?
According to the lab report presented by Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy, the ghee samples tested positive for beef tallow, as well as lard (pig fat) and fish oil.
The samples were received on July 9, 2024, and the report was issued on July 16, 2024.
At the press conference, Reddy stated, “The lab report confirms that beef tallow, lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of ghee supplied to Tirumala. Additionally, the S value is only 19.7.”
Later, in an interview with news agency ANI, Reddy remarked, “Chandrababu Naidu stated yesterday that animal fat was used as one of the ingredients in the ghee supplied to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. The lab reports from samples sent for testing to the National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat confirm that beef tallow, lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of the ghee, which had an S value of only 19.7.”
He added, “This is an affront to the Hindu religion. The prasadam offered to the Lord three times a day has been mixed with this ghee. We hope that justice will be served and that Lord Govind will forgive us for any mistakes that have been made.”
The laboratory—CALF (Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock & Food)—is a multidisciplinary analytical facility under the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), located in Anand, Gujarat.
As of now, neither the Andhra Pradesh government nor the TTD has provided official confirmation regarding the lab report.
The Rebuttal from YSRCP
Senior YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha member YV Subba Reddy, who previously served as chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams for four years, stated that Naidu’s allegations have undermined the sanctity of the deity and hurt the feelings of devotees.
“It is unimaginable to suggest that animal fat was used in the consecrated food offered to the deity and the laddoos given to devotees. There is no more heinous allegation than this,” Reddy said.
Affirming his Hindu faith and devotion to Sri Venkateswara Swamy, Reddy challenged Naidu to swear before the deity to confirm the truth of his claims. He further warned that if Naidu could not substantiate his allegations with proof, he would pursue legal action, potentially up to the Supreme Court.
Another senior YSRCP leader and former TTD chairman, B. Karunakar Reddy, accused Naidu of making sacrilegious claims about Tirupati laddoos for political gain. Reddy alleged that Naidu’s accusations of animal fat in the laddoos during the YSRCP government were intended to politically target the opposition party and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
“To attack YSRCP, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, and the previous government, Naidu has made heinous allegations regarding the use of animal fat in the deity’s laddoos. This is a deplorable tactic,” Reddy told a local news channel.
Parties Call for Thorough Investigation
AP Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila has called for a CBI investigation to determine whether animal fat was indeed used in the laddoos, criticizing both the ruling TDP and the opposition YSRCP for engaging in “heinous” politics surrounding the issue.
The BJP’s Andhra Pradesh unit also voiced its concerns in a post on X, stating that Naidu’s comments on the laddoo controversy have caused distress among Hindus and called for an immediate investigation into the allegations.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar described the alleged use of animal fat in the laddoos as a serious betrayal of the faith and trust of Hindus who worship Lord Venkateswara. He demanded an immediate inquiry by the Andhra Pradesh government to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable.
BJP MLA in Telangana, Raja Singh, remarked that the supposed use of “beef fat and fish oil” in the sacred laddoo prasadam during the previous YSR Congress rule is a direct assault on our rich cultural and religious heritage, which should not be tolerated. He urged Chandrababu Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take swift action against those responsible for this “grave offense.”
Where Does the Ghee Come From?
Reports indicate that the TTD board procures ghee through e-tenders every six months, purchasing an estimated 5 lakh kilograms annually, or nearly 42,000 kilograms per month.
As the controversy escalated, the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), known for its Nandini brand, clarified that it no longer supplies ghee to the TTD, having discontinued this practice four years ago due to pricing issues. The KMF could not offer ghee at prices low enough for the TTD following a recent price increase of Rs 3 per liter imposed by the Karnataka government.
Was Tirupati Procuring Low-Quality Milk?
In August 2023, KMF chairman Bheema Naik accused the temple body of sourcing low-quality ghee. In response, the then TTD executive officer AV Dharma Reddy stated that the temple exclusively procures cow ghee from suppliers who meet strict quality standards and offer the lowest cost (L1 bidder) through a competitive e-tender process.
He added that KMF had not qualified as an L1 bidder and had only supplied ghee once in the past 20 years, citing issues with timely delivery of their consignments.
