Bhubaneswar: To ensure the highest standards of food safety and quality, the Odisha government and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) have decided to conduct regular quality checks on Mahaprasad and ghee at the iconic Puri Jagannath Temple.
Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, addressing the media on Friday, emphasized that the decision comes in the wake of recent concerns over the quality of prasad at other temples, notably the row surrounding the prasad laddoo at Tirupati temple. “In light of these events, the Odisha government, in collaboration with SJTA, is committed to ensuring that the Mahaprasad and its ingredients meet the highest quality standards,” Harichandan said.
The new initiative will involve a thorough inspection of all ingredients before they are brought to the temple’s kitchen. Once the Mahaprasad is prepared, it will undergo another round of quality checks to guarantee its sanctity and safety for devotees. The state’s Health Department has been tasked with providing food inspectors for this purpose, and plans are underway to appoint dedicated food inspectors for the Srimandir, according to Harichandan.
“We are taking proactive steps to ensure that incidents occurring in other temples do not happen here in Odisha,” the minister added, stressing the government’s vigilance in maintaining the integrity and purity of temple offerings.