PURI: The Odisha government on Tuesday decided to test the quality of ghee used for preparation of offerings at the Jagannath temple in Puri, an official said. The decision was taken amid the row over the alleged use of animal fat in the ghee with which the laddus offered at the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh are prepared.
After Tirupati laddu row, the Odisha government has decided to test the quality of ghee used for preparation of ‘prasad’ at Jagannath temple in Puri, said an official on Tuesday.
The decision comes after controversy over the alleged use of animal fat in the ghee with which the laddus offered at the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh are made.
Puri’s District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain clarified that that though there have been no such allegations here, the administration will test the ghee’s quality sued for the preparation of ‘Kotha Bhoga‘ (prasad for the deities) and ‘Baradi Bhoga‘ (prasad on order) at the 12th-century shrine.
The only supplier of ghee for the prasad in Puri temple is state-run Odisha Milk Federation (Omfed).
“However, a decision has been taken to examine the standard of ghee being supplied by Omfed to allay any fear of adulteration,” he said, adding that discussions will be held with the Omfed as well as the temple’s servitors who prepare the ‘prasad’.
Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, a servitor, alleged that earlier adulterated ghee was found to be used for lighting ‘diyas’ or lamps on the temple premises.
“That has been stopped. We will request the temple’s chief administrator for a complete test of the ghee used here,” he said, maintaining that the faith of devotes was very important.
The quality of laddus at the Tirupati temple came under the limelight after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that substandard ingredients and animal fats were used in making them under the previous YSRCP government.
(With inputs from PTI)