Odisha Govt To Test & Standardise Ghee For Preparing ‘Bhoga’ At Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri:  Amid the controversy over the alleged use of animal fat in Tirupati laddoos in Andhra Pradesh, the Odisha Government has decided to test the quality of ghee being used at Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.

“There has been no allegation regarding the quality of ghee being used for making Kotha Bhoga (prasad for the sibling deities) and Baradi Bhoga (prasad on order) at the shrine. However, a decision has been taken to examine the standard of ghee being supplied by Omfed to allay any fear of adulteration. Discussions will also be held with the Omfed as well as the Suara and Mahasuara Nijog of the temple to standardise the ghee being supplied,” Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain told reporters on Tuesday.

Chief Badagrahi of Lord Jagannath Jagannath Swain Mohapatra said that earlier adulterated ghee was used for selling diyas (lamp) on the temple premises. “That was restricted. We will request the temple’s chief administrator for a complete test of the ghee used in the temple,” he said.

It is important to restore faith of the devotees, he added.

In 2017, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) asked Omfed to supply pure ghee for burning diyas (lamp) on premises of the shrine. It was aimed at preventing possible threat to the temple rocks due to smoke released from diyas lighted with impure ghee.