Srisailam temple EO dismisses reports of cockroach in ‘laddu prasadam’

The authorites of  Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Srisailam have refuted the allegations of cockroach in the laddu prasam distributed in the temple. :The laddu prasadam-making process is done in a clean and hygienic environment and there is no scope for any lapses and the ingredients used in the making are also of good quality,” the management said.

The temple management was responding to allegations of a devotee claiming that he had found a cockroach in the laddu prasadam. The devotee claimed that the temple staff took away the laddu and asked him to contact the higher officials and lodge a complaint.

Explaining the process of laddu making, Srisailam temple executive officer M. Srinivasa Rao said the laddu is made as per temple traditions and practices in a clean and hygienic manner. “Quality ingredients are used in making prasadam and the quality of ingredients is regularly supervised by the officials,” he said.

Mr. Rao said all precautions are taken from making `boondi’ to laddu. First, Boondi is made in hot ghee and later it is mixed with hot `pakam’ (jaggery syrup). The sweet boondi is later dried with all precautions. “All the staff involved in making of laddu wear head caps and gloves. Special fans are installed to dry the boondi before it is made into rounds,” the EO said and added that the entire process is recorded by CCTVs.

‘Temple got ISO status’

The ‘potu’ (laddu making unit) is cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis using chemicals, the EO said. “There is no possibility of cockroach coming in the laddu. The temple has also got ISO 22000 : Food Safety Management System for maintaining high standards in laddu making,” he clarified.

Mr. Rao said there were reports of a bone found in pulihora prasadam (specially made tamarind rice in temples) in February last year and the same were proven wrong. “It is unfortunate that some incidents are taking place hurting the sentiments of the devotees. These kind of incidents are also creating doubts among the devotees. We urge the devotees and people to maintain restraint and take up any inconvenience or problems to the notice of the EO and concerned heads of departments,” he said.