The odisha government, in collaboration with the Shree jagannath temple Administration (SJTA), has announced regular quality inspections of the ‘Mahaprasad’ served at the jagannath temple in Puri. This decision follows a recent government directive to assess the quality of ghee used in preparing the sacred offering.
The move comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in the prasadam laddoos at the tirupati balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh. Odisha's Law minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, emphadata-sized the need to ensure the quality of mahaprasad and its ingredients, stating, “Every item will undergo quality checks before entering the Roshasala (temple kitchen). This includes not just the ghee but all ingredients used in preparing Mahaprasad, including Abadha.”
To facilitate this initiative, food inspectors will be appointed to monitor quality standards, with several ex-servicemen already deployed at Ananda Bazaar, the temple's market. Harichandan reassured that the government is taking proactive measures to maintain the purity of Lord Jagannath's Mahaprasad, emphasizing, “There will be no impurities, and it will never happen.”
Regarding the quality of ghee, Puri’s district Collector, siddharth Shankar Swain, indicated that although there have been no allegations so far, the administration will conduct tests on the ghee used for both ‘Kotha Bhoga’ (prasad for the deities) and ‘Baradi Bhoga’ (prasad on order). The odisha Milk Federation (Omfed) is the sole supplier of ghee for the temple.
This announcement follows claims by Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, a temple servitor, regarding past incidents of adulterated ghee being used for lighting lamps on the premises, which have since been addressed.
Background of the Controversy
The recent decision in odisha is partly a response to a significant controversy in Andhra Pradesh, where chief minister N. chandrababu naidu alleged that animal fat was used in the laddoos at the tirupati temple during the tenure of former chief minister Y.S. jagan Mohan Reddy. Naidu accused the previous government of using substandard ingredients, including animal fat, compromising the temple's offerings.
In defense, reddy denied these allegations, labeling them as diversionary tactics aimed at overshadowing Naidu's governance issues in recent months. He reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the sanctity of tirupati, stating, “The importance of tirupati is known worldwide… Protecting its sanctity has been the focus of my regime.”