Puri: In light of recent controversy surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in the famous Tirupati laddoos in Andhra Pradesh, the Odisha Government has decided to conduct a quality check on the ghee used at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
While no allegations have been raised regarding the ghee used in the temple’s ‘Kotha Bhoga’ (ritual prasad) and ‘Baradi Bhoga’ (special order offerings), authorities aim to ensure its purity.
Speaking to media persons, Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain stated that the move is a precautionary measure to address any potential concerns about adulteration.
The ghee, supplied by Omfed (Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation), will be evaluated, and discussions will be held with both Omfed and the Suara and Mahasuara Nijog (temple cooking communities) to establish a standardized quality, Swain added.
This is not the first time the Shree Jagannath Temple has focused on ghee standards. In 2017, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) instructed Omfed to provide pure ghee for lighting ‘diyas’ (lamps) within the temple premises, aiming to reduce potential damage to temple rocks from impure ghee smoke.
