Amid ongoing controversy over Tirupati prasad, a woman devotee has made a shocking claim that when she broke the laddu given to her as prasadam at the famed Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, she found tobacco wrapped in paper inside. However, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) refuted the allegations and asked her to store the laddu for investigation.

Tirupati prasadam has been in the news since last week after Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, citing a Gujarat lab report, claimed that the sought-after offerings distributed during the previous government’s tenure contained animal fat. CM Chandrababu Naidu’s allegation has sparked a political storm in the state.

Khammam district resident Donthu Padmavati claimed that she visited the Tirupati temple on September 19 and brought back the prasadam to distribute among family and neighbors.

Padmavati said she was heartbroken after finding pieces of tobacco wrapped in a small paper inside the laddu as she was about to distribute the sacred offering.

Padmavati’s claim came as a major shock to Tirupati devotees, who were already reeling from the news that the ghee used for the laddu was contaminated with animal fat.

These incidents have raised serious doubts among devotees about the hygiene and overall purity of the prasad distributed at famous religious places.

In response, the TTD refuted the claim that Tirupati laddu contains tobacco packets, stating that the viral content has caused unnecessary controversy. The laddus, made with great devotion by Sri Vaishnava Brahmins at the Laddu Potu in Tirumala, adhere to strict protocols and are prepared under constant CCTV monitoring, the TTD explained.

“It is misleading and unacceptable to imply the presence of tobacco in such a carefully regulated process,” the TTD stated.

Nonetheless, TTD contacted the devotee and requested them to preserve the laddu for investigation.

Amid the controversy over the alleged presence of animal fat in Tirupati laddoos, a four-hour purification ritual known as Shanti Homam Panchagavya Prokshana is being performed at the Tirumala temple on Monday. According to temple officials, this ritual aims to cleanse and undo any desecration that allegedly occurred during the tenure of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) government.

Details Of The Cleansing Rituals

The purification ceremony began today in the morning, involving the establishment of three homa gundas (sacrificial fire pits) where the rituals were conducted in strict accordance with the Shastras, traditional Hindu scriptures. According to an India Today report, eight temple priests, under the guidance of three Agama Shastra experts, conducted the Shanti Homam, which began at 5:40 am and lasted about two hours.

Alongside this, the Vastu Homam was also performed, focusing on cleansing the space and ensuring the sanctity of the temple. This included the purification of all the vessels, machines and ceremonial areas involved in the preparation of the prasadam, a sacred offering at the temple.

As part of the rituals, the Panchagavya Prokshana, a sacred sprinkling with a mixture of five cow products (milk, curd, ghee, urine, and dung) was performed to sanctify the environment. These rituals are aimed at seeking divine forgiveness from Lord Venkateswara Swamy for the alleged sacrilegious acts, including claims that animal fats were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddoos.

What Is The Controversy?

The controversy surrounding the laddoos erupted after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu recently claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were discovered in the laddoos served at the temple during the previous government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy. Naidu cited a private lab report from Gujarat, which allegedly found traces of beef tallow, lard (pig fat) and fish oil in the ghee used for the prasadam.

However, former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy vehemently denied these allegations, stating that no such violation occurred during his administration. He also accused Naidu of using religion for political gain, calling him a pathological and habitual liar. Reddy further criticised Naidu for engaging in ‘politics in the name of God,’ attempting to dismiss the claims as politically motivated.

On Sunday, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer J. Shyamala Rao reiterated that the ongoing rituals aim to dispel any negative influences and restore the spiritual purity of the laddu prasadam, ensuring the well-being of the temple’s devotees.

New Delhi: Atishi officially assumed office as the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi on Monday, succeeding Arvind Kejriwal, who recently resigned. She was seen sitting on a chair keeping another one empty beside her in a heartfelt, yet symbolic gesture for the ex-CM & her party supremo Arvind Kejriwal.

In her inaugural remarks, she drew a symbolic parallel to the Hindu epic Ramayana, stating, “My situation is like that of Bharat, when Lord Shri Rama went into exile, and Bharat had to govern in his absence.” Atishi, 43, pledged to lead the government for the next four months until the upcoming elections, echoing Bharat’s role in ruling with Lord Ram’s khadaun (sandals) on the throne.

BJP Mocks Gesture As Publicity Stunt

The BJP in no time came forward and slammed the new CM of Delhi over her symbolic gesture, terming it as a publicity stunt. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted a video on X mocking Atishi over the move. He termed her gesture towards Kejriwal as ‘kursi stunt’. “Delhi gets its new Manmohan Singh,” read the caption of the video post.

Atishi, after taking charge as CM lauded Kejriwal’s tenure as the CM and spoke on him being falsely implicated and kept in jail. She also mentioned that the empty chair in her office will stay until Kejriwal returns as the Chief Minister. “Arvind Kejriwal has set an example of dignity and morality. For the last two years, the BJP has left no stone unturned to malign the image of Arvind Kejriwal. False cases were put on him, he was arrested and put in jail for six months…Arvind Kejriwal has said that he will not sit on the CM’s chair until the public of Delhi shows trust in his honesty. So, he tendered his resignation,” said Atishi.

“The chair of the Delhi Chief Minister belongs to Arvind Kejriwal. I am hopeful that the public of Delhi will elect him again as the Delhi Chief Minister. Till that, the chair will remain in this office and wait for Arvind Kejriwal,” she added.

Atishi Sworn In As Delhi CM

Atishi was sworn in alongside her cabinet on September 21, marking a major transition in Delhi’s leadership. The Delhi Assembly is set to convene on September 26 and 27. Retaining her previous responsibilities, Atishi continues to oversee 13 portfolios, including education, revenue, finance, power, and public works.

Yesterday that she is expected to officially take charge on Monday, with other ministers likely to do the same. Saurabh Bharadwaj, who manages eight portfolios, more than any other minister has already assumed his duties as of Saturday.

Atishi’s New Cabinet

Newly appointed Mukesh Ahlawat has taken charge of several departments, including labor, SC and ST affairs, employment, and land and building. Gopal Rai will oversee development, general administration, and environmental affairs, maintaining the portfolios he held under Kejriwal. Kailash Gahlot has retained his roles in transport, home, administrative reforms, and women and child development.