Odisha to Monitor Quality of Jagannath Temple’s Mahaprasad Amid Tirupati Laddoo Row

Bhubaneswar: In wake of the controversy over the alleged use of animal fat in laddoos at Tirupati Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh, the Odisha government, along with the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), has decided to conduct regular quality checks of the ‘Mahaprasad’ served at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. This decision follows the government's recent directive to assess the quality of ghee used in the preparation of the Mahaprasad at the sacred pilgrimage site.

Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said that the government and the temple trust have decided to ensure the integrity of the mahaprasad and other ingredients, such as ghee. “Every item will be subjected to a quality inspection before it enters the Roshasala (temple’s kitchen). We will scrutinise not just the ghee but also the quality of all ingredients used in Mahaprasad preparation, including Abadha,” Odisha TV quoted Harichandan as saying.

He added that food inspectors would be appointed to oversee the quality checks. He noted that several ex-servicemen have already been appointed and deployed at Ananda Bazaar.

“Food inspectors will be appointed so that the allegations which are coming up at other temples are not reported from Puri Jagannath temple. The government is aware and taking appropriate steps. There is no impurity in Lord Jagannath’s Mahaprasad and it will never happen,” he asserted.

Speaking about the quality check of ghee used in preparing mahaprasad, Puri’s District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain stated that although there have been no allegations, the administration would test the quality of ghee used for ‘Kotha Bhoga’ (prasad for the deities) and ‘Baradi Bhoga’ (prasad on order) at the historic 12th-century shrine.

Swain informed that the state-run Odisha Milk Federation (Omfed) is the sole supplier of ghee for the Puri temple. Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, a servitor, previously claimed that adulterated ghee had been found for lighting ‘diyas’ or lamps on the temple premises, as reported by the news agency PTI.

“That has been stopped. We will request the temple’s chief administrator for a complete test of the ghee used here,” the official stated, stressing on the importance of maintaining the faith of devotees.