PURI (ODISHA), SEPT 24: The Odisha government has decided to test the quality of ghee used for preparing offerings at the Jagannath temple in Puri, an official announced on Tuesday. The move comes amid concerns raised about the alleged use of animal fat in ghee used to prepare laddus at the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh.
While no such allegations have been made in Puri, District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain stated that the administration will examine the quality of the ghee used for preparing ‘Kotha Bhoga’ (prasad offered to the deities) and ‘Baradi Bhoga’ (prasad prepared on order) at the 12th-century shrine.
Swain confirmed that the state-run Odisha Milk Federation (Omfed) is the sole supplier of ghee for the Puri temple. “To ensure transparency and allay any fears of adulteration, we have decided to test the standard of ghee supplied by Omfed,” he said, adding that discussions would be held with Omfed and the temple’s servitors involved in preparing the prasad.
Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, a servitor at the temple, mentioned that adulterated ghee had been previously found in lamps used to light ‘diyas’ on the temple premises, though this practice has since been stopped. “We will request the temple’s chief administrator to conduct a thorough test of the ghee used here, as maintaining the faith of devotees is paramount,” he added.
This development follows a national controversy over the quality of laddus at the Tirupati temple, with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu alleging that substandard ingredients and animal fat were used during the previous YSRCP government.
