The Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati is facing fresh controversy after a devotee claimed she found tobacco inside a laddu given as prasadam (religious offering). This revelation comes just after allegations of animal fat in the laddus stirred a major political row in Andhra Pradesh.
Donthu Padmavati, a resident of Khammam district, reported that she discovered the tobacco on September 19 after her visit to the revered temple. Like many devotees, Padmavati had brought the laddus home to share with her family and neighbors. However, upon examining the laddu, she was horrified to find pieces of tobacco wrapped in paper inside it.
“The prasadam is supposed to be sacred, and to find such contamination is heartbreaking,” Padmavati said, expressing her deep disappointment and shock. Her discovery has sparked widespread concern among the millions of devotees who view the Tirupati laddus as a symbol of purity and devotion.
This incident comes in the wake of another controversy surrounding the laddus. Allegations were raised about the presence of animal fat in the ghee used to prepare the sacred offering. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu recently claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were found in the laddus during the tenure of the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government. According to Naidu, a private lab in Gujarat detected “beef tallow,” “lard” (pig fat), and fish oil in the ghee used in the preparation.
Naidu’s remarks have led to a political storm in Andhra Pradesh, with many questioning the quality control measures at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the trust that oversees the temple’s operations. The controversy has raised serious doubts about the handling and production of the much-revered prasadam, which has been a symbol of faith and tradition for millions of pilgrims.
However, former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has strongly denied the allegations. He refuted Naidu’s claims, stating that there were no such violations during his government’s tenure. former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Naidu of “doing politics in the name of God” and labeled him a “pathological and habitual liar.”
The controversy over the quality of Tirupati’s sacred laddus has shaken the trust of many devotees and has now gained significant political traction. As investigations continue, the reputation of the Tirumala temple and its offerings hangs in the balance, with devotees awaiting clarification and resolution.
