Uttarakhand to test prasad purity after Tirupati laddu row

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand govt has decided to begin regular laboratory testing of prasad offered in prominent temples across the state following concerns raised by a controversy surrounding Tirupati temple prasad in Andhra Pradesh. The state, often called Devbhoomi, witnesses millions of pilgrims every year, making food safety and purity a priority to protect the health and faith of devotees.
State tourism and culture minister Satpal Maharaj on Monday said that the authorities concerned will carry out random inspections to ensure that all prasad, not just from Char Dham shrines but also from other prominent temples, meet high standards of safety. He stressed that any person found guilty of adulteration would face strict action. "If anyone is found guilty of adulteration, we will act tough against the person," he said.
In 2023, around seven crore people, mainly religious tourists, visited Uttarakhand. Authorities expect the number to grow to 10 crore this year, with major sites including Char Dham, Haridwar, and other temples in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions drawing large crowds. Haridwar, in particular, attracts millions during the month of Sharavan, where pilgrims bathe in the river Ganga and collect its water for religious purposes.
Meanwhile, Ajendra Ajay, the chief of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), held a meeting with state officials to address these concerns. Ajay emphasised that maintaining the purity and dignity of the bhog-prasad system across all temples under BKTC's ambit, including Badrinath and Kedarnath Dhams, would be a priority. "We will keep a strict watch on the quality of bhog and prasad used in the temples from time to time," he added.
The meeting also involved top officials from the Food Safety and Drug Administration and the temple committees. They discussed the quality, storage, and sourcing of food items used for prasad in temples. BKTC chief executive officer Vijay Prasad Thapliyal said that dry items used for prasad in Badrinath and Kedarnath are mostly donated by devotees. "We request donors to provide high-quality items for the bhog," he said.
Food safety deputy commissioner G C Kandwal said a standard operating procedure (SOP) should be prepared for the donation and purchase of food items used for bhog-prasad. Kandwal also recommended checking suppliers' food licenses, along with the manufacturing and expiry dates of food products. He stressed that maintaining proper storage conditions for food is essential.
The state also plans to set standards for food storage in temples, especially for ingredients like spices, oil, and ghee. Greater caution would be exercised in verifying the authenticity of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Agmark licenses for institutions supplying these items.