Tirupati Temple Board Holds First Meeting Amid Laddoo Controversy
November 18, 2024 | Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh
The newly appointed Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board met for the first time on Monday, November 18, 2024, at Annamaiah Bhavan in Tirumala. The board, under the leadership of Chairman BR Naidu, is set to address 80 key agenda items. Decisions made during the meeting are expected to be announced later in the afternoon. Some members attended the session virtually.
BR Naidu Takes Charge as Tirupati Temple Board Chairman
BR Naidu, who assumed office as the 54th Chairman of the TTD Board earlier this month, took the oath of office at the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple. TTD Executive Officer Shyamala Rao administered the oath. After the formal ceremony, Naidu offered prayers at the Varaha Swamy temple and visited the Vaikuntham Queue Complex to have darshan of Lord Venkateswara. The religious ceremony concluded with blessings from priests at the Ranganayakula Mandapam.
In his speech, Naidu emphasized his commitment to serving the temple and its devotees with dedication and selflessness. His appointment has garnered attention, particularly due to ongoing controversies surrounding the temple’s prasadam.
Tirupati Laddoo Controversy Sparks Investigation
The primary issue dogging Naidu’s leadership is the controversy surrounding the preparation of Tirupati laddus, the temple’s iconic prasadam. Last month, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government of using substandard ingredients, including animal fat, in the preparation of the laddus. These allegations led to widespread outrage among devotees, who questioned the authenticity and purity of the prasadam.
Supreme Court Steps In: SIT Formed to Investigate
In response to the allegations, the Supreme Court of India intervened on October 4, 2024, and established an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the claims. The court recognized the emotional significance of Tirumala prasadam for millions of devotees and insisted on a fair and transparent investigation.
The SIT comprises two officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), two from the Andhra Pradesh police, and a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The investigation will be supervised by the CBI director, and the SIT has replaced a state government-appointed team that had previously handled the matter.
Devotees Await Investigation Outcome
The investigation’s findings are highly anticipated by devotees worldwide, as the laddus are considered an essential offering in the temple’s religious practices. The outcome of the probe could have significant implications for the future of the prasadam, impacting both the temple’s operations and its relationship with followers.
TTD officials have assured devotees that the integrity of the prasadam will be maintained and that all preparations will align with the temple’s religious guidelines.
Today’s Tirupati Temple Board Board Meeting and Next Steps
As the newly constituted TTD Board addresses its 80-point agenda, including governance and administrative matters, the developments from this meeting could further influence how the temple responds to both the laddoo controversy and other ongoing challenges. The decisions made during this meeting, alongside the progress of the SIT investigation, will play a critical role in the temple’s future and its relationship with millions of devotees across the globe.