The sanctity of the Lord Venkateswara Tirupati temple has been questioned after a devotee claimed to have found a millipede in his curd rice, a sacred offering known as prasad. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has sparked outrage and ignited a debate about hygiene standards at the renowned temple.
Chandu, a devotee who had travelled from Warangal, alleged that he discovered the insect in his meal during the temple’s lunch service at 1.30 pm. He claims that his concerns were met with a shockingly casual response from the temple staff who simply said, ‘It happens sometimes.’ Chandu documented the incident with photos and videos. He further claimed that temple authorities attempted to intimidate him, dismissing the incident and attributing the insect’s presence to the leaf used for serving.
‘This negligence is unacceptable,’ Chandu said. ‘If children or others were to consume contaminated food, who would be held responsible for potential food poisoning?’
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the governing body of the temple, has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them ‘baseless and false.’ The TTD insists that the prasad is prepared fresh daily for thousands of devotees and that the presence of an insect would have been impossible to miss. ‘TTD prepares hot Anna prasadam for thousands of devotees who come for Srivari Darshan and it is an unconvincing claim that a millipede could fall into the food unnoticed,’ their statement read. The TTD also suggested that the claims could be an attempt to defame the institution and undermine devotees’ faith in Lord Venkateswara.
This incident comes amidst a larger controversy surrounding the infamous Tirupati laddu, another sacred offering. The laddu has been under scrutiny due to allegations of the presence of animal fat. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently investigating these claims under Supreme Court orders.
The controversy surrounding the millipede incident has raised serious concerns about food safety and hygiene standards at the temple. While the TTD maintains its innocence, the devotee’s allegations and the ongoing scrutiny of the Tirupati laddu highlight a need for increased transparency and accountability in ensuring the purity and safety of offerings at this revered religious site.
