New Delhi: The Odisha government, in collaboration with the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), has announced plans to implement regular quality checks on the ‘Mahaprasad’ offered at the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The decision comes amid a recent order for a quality assessment of the ghee used in preparing the Mahaprasad, which came amid ongoing controversy over the alleged use of animal fat in the prasadam laddoos at the Tirupati Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh.
Odisha’s Law Minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, said that the government and temple authorities are committed to ensuring the integrity of Mahaprasad and its ingredients, including ghee. He said that all items will undergo a quality inspection before entering the temple’s kitchen, or Roshasala. “We will investigate not just the ghee but all ingredients used in Mahaprasad preparation, including Abadha,” Harichandan said, as per Odisha TV report.
Quality control tightened
To facilitate these quality checks, food inspectors will be appointed and many ex-servicemen have already been deployed at Ananda Bazaar. Harichandan said that these measures aim to prevent any allegations similar to those at other temples from affecting the 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 said.
Regarding the quality check of ghee used for Mahaprasad, Puri’s District Collector, Siddharth Shankar Swain, said that although there have been no allegations so far, the administration intends to assess the quality of ghee used for both ‘Kotha Bhoga’ (prasad for deities) and ‘Baradi Bhoga’ (prasad upon request) at the temple.
Crack down on adulterated ghee
Swain said that the Odisha Milk Federation (Omfed) is the sole supplier of ghee for the Puri temple. In a related context, servitor Jagannath Swain Mohapatra said that adulterated ghee had previously been used for lighting lamps on the temple grounds. He added, “That has been stopped. We will request the temple’s chief administrator for a complete test of the ghee used here,” highlighting the importance of maintaining devotees’ faith.
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