Odisha Government to Test Quality of Ghee Used in Jagannath Temple Offerings

The Odisha government has decided to test the quality of ghee used in offerings at Puri’s Jagannath temple amid concerns over alleged adulteration. This follows allegations of animal fat usage in ghee at Andhra Pradesh's Tirumala temple. The decision aims to ensure the purity of offerings and maintain devotees' faith.

The Odisha government on Tuesday announced that it will test the quality of ghee used for preparing offerings at the Jagannath temple in Puri, an official disclosed.

This decision comes amid allegations of animal fat contamination in ghee used at Andhra Pradesh's Tirumala temple. Although Puri temple has not faced such allegations, the administration aims to ensure the purity of the 'Kotha Bhoga' and 'Baradi Bhoga' prasad by testing the ghee supplied by the state-run Odisha Milk Federation (Omfed).

Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain confirmed that the quality checks aim to dispel any fears of adulteration. Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, a temple servitor, emphasized the importance of maintaining the faith of devotees while mentioning previous instances of adulterated ghee being used for lighting lamps, which have since been stopped.

(With inputs from agencies.)