Lucknow: After the thiruppathi Laddu controversy, temples in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj have decided not to offer sweets as offerings in temples. Flowers, coconuts and fruits are proposed to be replaced by peda and laddu, which are currently being offered as prasad. The new decision has been taken by the temple committees of Sri Mankameswar Mahadeva Temple, Alop Shankari Devi Temple and Bade Hanuman Temple.
Murat Mishra, head priest of the famous Lalita Devi temple in Prayagraj, said that henceforth devotees will not offer sweets to the deities and instead have decided to use coconut, fruits, dry fruits and cardamom. He also said that there is a plan to open shops within the temple premises to provide free sweets to the devotees.
The District Magistrate has been asked to check the samples of sweets outside the temple and ensure the quality. He clarified that sweets will not be accepted as offerings till this inspection is done. Head of Bade Hanuman Temple, Mahant Balbir Giriji Maharaj informed that as soon as the construction of the corridor is completed, they are thinking of making prasad for the temple.
The decision follows a move to ban outside Prasad at the Mangamaheshwar temple in Saknau. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s statement that the laddu served as prasad at the Tirupati Venkateswara temple is made with animal fat was controversial. Naidu alleged that the famous Tirupati Laddu was made using animal fat and substandard ingredients and that animal fat was used instead of ghee during the tenure of YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy as Chief Minister.
