Karnataka was the first to spring to action, with Transport & Muzrai Minister R Ramalinga Reddy declaring on September 20 that all muzrai temples in the state must use only Nandini ghee for their prasada and food served to devotees.
Nandini, the pride of Karnataka’s dairy industry and owned by the Karnataka Cooperative Milk Federation (KMF), is second only to Amul in market reach. Hundreds of temples across Karnataka, big and small, rely on it to serve food to hungry devotees.
“I’m confident our temples have been using Nandini products for prasadam. But when the CM of a State makes a serious allegation, it can raise eyebrows. I don’t want any doubts, so we decided to issue a circular to all temples,” the minister had told ET.
Odish govt order for Puri’s Jagannath temple
Puri’s famous Jagannath Temple wasn’t immune to the chaos. The Odisha government, on September 25, decided to test the quality of ghee used for offerings. District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain noted that while no allegations had surfaced there, the administration wants to ensure the quality of ghee used for the temple’s offerings.
“A decision has been taken to examine the standard of ghee being supplied by Omfed to allay any fear of adulteration,” he said, noting that discussions will be held with the Omfed as well as the temple’s servitors who prepare the prasad. The state-run Odisha Milk Federation or Omfed is the only supplier of ghee to for use in the Puri temple.
Badrinath, Kedarnath fall under scanner
Not to be left behind, Uttarakhand’s Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) joined the list on September 24, announcing plans for standard operating procedures (SOPs) for temple offerings, donations, and purchases following the stir around Tirupati Temple’s laddu.
This decision now affects 47 temples under BKTC’s management, including the iconic Badrinath and Kedarnath Dhams.
“We’ll take action against vendors selling prasad outside temple premises without valid food licenses and proper food storage,” said CEO Thapliyal, according to The New Indian Express.
UP: 47 temples and counting
Lucknow’s Mankameshwar temple stepped in on the action on September 23 and banned all outside prasad – allowing only homemade prasad or fruits. Mahant Devya Giri of the temple condemned the distribution of adulterated prasad as an “unpardonable crime.”
“In light of the adulterated prasad at the Tirupati temple, we urge devotees to ensure their offerings are free from any non-vegetarian ingredients,” she said, stressing the importance of purity in offerings.
The prasad panic even reached Uttar Pradesh, with Prayagraj Temple authorities banning devotees from bringing sweets and other processed items for offerings. Instead, they are now being encouraged to bring coconuts, fruits, and dry fruits.
Prominent temples in Sangam city, including Alop Shankari Devi, Bade Hanuman, and Mankameshwar, have embraced these new restrictions.
“In our temple management meeting on Tuesday, we decided that sweets won’t be offered to the goddess. Instead, devotees can present coconuts, fruits, dry fruits, and cardamom,” shared Shiv Murat Mishra, the chief priest of Lalita Devi Temple in Prayagraj.
He even said that plans are underway to open shops within the temple grounds to provide devotees with pure sweets.
