The Odisha government on Tuesday announced plans to test the quality of ghee used for offerings at the Jagannath temple in Puri, according to an official statement. This decision comes in response to recent controversies surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in ghee for the laddus prepared at the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh. The deed has gained significant shock and backlash from across the country.
Siddharth Shankar Swain, the District Collector of Puri, told PTI that while there have been no such allegations concerning the ghee used at the Jagannath temple, the administration wants to proactively ensure good quality. Testing will be conducted on the ghee utilized for both ‘Kotha Bhoga’ (the offerings made to the deities) and ‘Baradi Bhoga’ (offered upon request) at the historic 12th-century shrine.
Swain noted that the Odisha Milk Federation (Omfed) is the sole supplier of ghee for the temple. He said the administration has decided to get rid of any worries and concerns regarding adulteration by assessing the quality of the ghee provided by Omfed. A few discussions will also be held with Omfed and the temple’s servitors, who are responsible for preparing the ‘prasad.’
Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, a temple servitor, pointed out that there have been past instances of adulterated ghee being used for lighting lamps on the temple grounds, which has since been addressed. He expressed a commitment to ensuring the faith of devotees remains intact and indicated a request would be made to the temple’s chief administrator for comprehensive testing of the ghee used.
The issue gained national attention after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu alleged that substandard ingredients and animal fats were being used in the laddus at the Tirupati temple under the previous YSRCP government.