The controversy over the use of animal fat as ghee in making laddus for prasad at Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh is getting deeper. Amidst all this, the Karnataka government has taken a big decision and issued a circular ordering the temples to use only Nandini brand ghee. Temples have been instructed to maintain the quality of the prasad prepared at their temples. This instruction of the government will be applicable to all 34,000 temples.
Karnataka government directive
According to the new directive of the Karnataka government, only Nandini Ghee will be used in all the rituals performed in temples such as lighting lamps, preparing prasad and serving food to the devotees. The official circular emphasizes that the quality of prasad should never be compromised. The circular states, “In all notified temples under the Religious Endowments Department of the state of Karnataka, only Nandini Ghee should be used for all types of services, preparation of lamps and prasad and in Dasauha Bhavan. It is suggested to maintain quality in the prasad prepared in the temples.”
What is Nandini Ghee brand?
Let us tell you that Karnataka Milk Federation i.e. KMF is a dairy cooperative, which sells products like milk, curd, ghee, butter, ice cream, chocolate and sweets under the brand name Nandini. KMF was established in the year 1974. After this controversy, Karnataka Milk Federation has said that they have nothing to do with adulterated ghee. KMF last supplied ghee to Tirupati temple in 2020.
Tirupati Laddu controversy
The controversy over animal fat in Tirupati temple laddu started on September 18, when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu alleged that fat was being mixed in Tirupati prasad. He said that the company from which the temple administration was taking ghee has been blacklisted and a vigilance inquiry is being conducted in the matter.
Image Credit: India-Tv.