Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan to undergo 11-day penance after Tirupati 'laddoo' row

Tollywood star and Andhra PradeshDeputy Chief Minister, Pawan Kalyan will undergo 11-day ritualistic penance after reports emerged that the 'prasdam' (offering) at Sri Venkateswara Temple was adulterated with 'animal fats'.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kalyan called the incident a "stain on the Hindu race", adding that those practising the faith needed to atone for the injustice done to Lord Balaji.

"Tirumala Laddu Prasadam, which is considered to be sacred,has become impure as a result of the depraved tendencies of the past rulers. Contaminated with animal remains. Only open minds can succumb to such sin. Not being able to detect this sin in the beginning is a stain on the Hindu race," said Kalyan.

"Everyone who believes in Sanatana Dharma should atone for this terrible injustice done to Balaji, the god of Kaliyuga," he added.

The atonement period will starton Sunday (Sep 22),with Kalyan visitingSri Dashavatara Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Nambur. After the 11-day period, Kalyanwill visit Tirupati and beg the god to 'wash away' his sins.

"The moment I came to know that the laddu prasadam contained animal remains, my mind was broken. Feeling guilty. As I am fighting for the welfare of the people, it hurts me that such trouble did not come to my attention in the beginning," said Kalyan.

The Janasena Party chief said he was pained that even the board members at Tirupati were unable to report about the adulterations being done to the 'laddoos', offered to millions of devotees who throng to the temple.

"Only those who have no faith in God and no fear of sin indulge in such crimes. My pain is that even the board members and employees who are a part of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam system are not able to find out the mistakes there, even if they find out, they don't talk about it."

ఏడుకొండలవాడా..! క్షమించు
•11 రోజులపాటు ప్రాయశ్చిత్త దీక్ష
అమృతతుల్యంగా... పరమ పవిత్రంగా భావించే తిరుమల లడ్డు ప్రసాదం- గత పాలకులు వికృత పోకడల ఫలితంగా అపవిత్రమైంది. జంతు అవశేషాలతో మాలిన్యమైంది. విశృంఖల మనస్కులే ఇటువంటి పాపానికి ఒడిగట్టగలరు. ఈ పాపాన్ని ఆదిలోనే పసిగట్టలేకపోవడం… — Pawan Kalyan (@PawanKalyan) September 21, 2024

Watch |Tirupati Laddu Row: New vendor appointed, promises of purity

What is the 'laddoo' controversy?

The controversy erupted after CM Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday (Sep 18) alleged that his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government allowed the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of laddus, which included animal fat and fish oil.

On Thursday (Sep 19), a lab report fromGujarat’s NDDB CALF lab confirmed the presence of lard, beef tallow and fish oil in ghee samples. The report, dated July 16, 2024, was presented by TDP spokesperson Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy in a press conference.

"The lab reports of samples that were sent for testing to the National Dairy Development Board in Gujarat certify that beef tallow and animal fat, lard, and fish oil were used in the preparation of ghee that was supplied to Tirumala and also the S value is only 19.7," Reddy said in a press conference.

The uproar has led toIndian Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi calling for a detailed probe into the allegations.

(With inputs from agencies)