Amid rising concerns over the purity of the world-famous Tirupati laddu prasadam, Ayodhya's Ram Mandir has imposed a ban on offerings prepared by external agencies. This decision follows allegations that adulterated ghee was used in the preparation of laddus at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, prompting the temple authorities to perform a purification ritual.

Ram Mandir’s chief priest, Acharya Satyendra Das, raised questions about the quality of ghee sold across the country and emphasized that prasadam should only be prepared under the direct supervision of temple priests. He also called for a "complete ban" on prasad made by external agencies in all major temples and monasteries, stating, "Prasad should be made under the supervision of temple priests and only such offerings should be presented to the deities."

Das further addressed the controversy surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in the Tirupati laddu, saying that both devotees and religious leaders nationwide are voicing concerns and demanding an investigation. He stressed the need to scrutinize the purity of ghee and oils sold in the market, suggesting an international conspiracy to desecrate temples by mixing meat and fat in offerings. Das urged the government to conduct rigorous checks on food products.

In a related move, the Mankameshwar Temple in Lucknow also banned market-bought offerings. Temple authorities encouraged devotees to bring homemade prasad instead, citing concerns of adulteration. "We have taken this initiative due to the Tirupati Prasadam controversy. There is always some level of adulteration in market-bought items. We now request devotees to bring homemade offerings," said Mahant Divya Giri, the temple’s head.

Additionally, in Mathura and Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh authorities collected 43 samples of food items from 15 vendors near religious sites as part of a campaign led by the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA). The collected items included sweets like peda, rasgulla, and barfi, among others. While most samples met the standards, one peda sample has been sent for further testing in Lucknow.

The controversy over Tirupati laddu, or Srivari Laddu, continues to spark debate. For over 300 years, the laddu has been the main offering at the temple, but recent claims by the newly-elected TDP government have accused the previous YSRCP administration of using animal fat in place of pure ghee. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been vocal about these concerns, which have unsettled devotees.

In response, current Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed the accusations, writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assure him that no such violation occurred during his government. Reddy labeled the controversy as baseless and called for devotees to join a special pooja across Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, September 28, to "atone for the sin" and restore the sanctity of the Tirumala Tirupati Temple.

As part of the ongoing efforts to address the issue, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams performed a purification ritual known as 'Shanti Homam' in the temple kitchens where the laddus are prepared for offering.