In Tirupati, 10 tonnes of gram flour, several quintals of ghee are made every day… hundreds of thousands of laddus? The revenue is in the billions

The laddus here are in the news after adulteration was found in the ghee used in Tirupati Balaji’s Prasad. The Prasad laddus served by Tirupati Balaji are highly regarded and lakhs of them are made every day. However, after confirming the presence of fish oil and animal fat in the ingredients of the laddus, people wanted to know where and how these laddus are made. So everything related to Tirupati Prasad…

Where are these laddus made?

These famous laddus of Tirupati Balaji are made with great precision. The ingredient used in this laddu is called dittam. Also, the kitchen where these laddus are made is called Laddu Pottu. Earlier wood was used to make the prasad but since 1984, LPG has been used. Lakhs of laddus are made here every day and there are different reports about this. Many reports say that 3.5 lakh laddus will be produced and some even go over 5 lakh.

Earlier, laddus were made in the kitchen using different moving belts. Last year, Times of India reported that some machines worth Rs 50 crore are now being imported from Germany, Australia and Switzerland, so that the work of making laddus will be completely automated. No manual work at all will be required in the process. Earlier, there were more than 600 cooks, some of whom were contract workers and some of whom were permanent employees, responsible for making these laddus.

How are these laddus made?

The special thing about this laddu is that it is not perfectly round like the normal laddu but is oval in shape. It is said that these laddus were made from 1715. The process of making has changed 6 times till now and now this laddu is made of gram flour, sugar, cashew nuts, cardamom, ghee, sugar and raisins. It is said that 10 tonnes of gram flour, 10 tonnes of sugar, 700 kg of cashew nuts, 150 kg of cardamom, 300 to 400 litres of ghee, 500 kg of sugar and 540 kg of raisins are used every day to make the laddus. The trust has floated separate tenders for these items.

Are there three types of laddus?

There are three types of laddus in Prasad, which include Proktham, Asthanam and Kalyanotsavam. Proktham laddus are small laddus, weighing 60-75 grams each, and are served to a large number of visitors. Meanwhile, Asthanam Laddu is made during festivals and weighs 750 grams each. Kalyanotsavam: This laddu is made for those who attend Kalyanotsavam.

How much do you earn?

According to TOI, Prasad is considered as the third largest source of revenue for the Tirupati temple. This is around Rs 500-600 crore. Laddu, Vada, Dosa, Pongal, Pulihora etc. are made as Prasad by the trust. It is sold through online media and in the temple. Let us tell you that the price of a laddu here is Rs 50 per laddu.