On-going Brahmotsavam festival in Tirupathi – 4 Lakh Laddus are prepared daily!
Posted on: 01/Oct/2014 3:40:47 PM
Brahmotsavam series of festival is performed at Tirupathi. This is one of the most popular occasions for the devotees to visit & have a Darshan of the Lord Srinivasa. It is informed that 4 Lakh Laddus are being prepared for sales & distribution to the bulging crowd of devotees.
The Laddus, prepared and sold as divine offering from the Lord, in Tirupathi Ezhumalaiyan Temple are hugely popular worldwide. For the devotees who come by foot and those who have a Darshan of the Lord, Laddus are offered free.
Even then, there is a long queue of devotees waiting to buy the Laddus confirming the special attraction for this item.
Several items including Laddus are offered specially with prayer to the Lord Srinivasa every day. However, the Laddus are the most popular item among them.
During the reign of King Krishnadeva raya, supreme importance was accorded to the distribution of these Lord’s offerings to the devotees. At first, the item known as ‘Boondhi’ (broken pieces of Laddu) was offered as the divine ‘prasadam’. Laddu sales & distribution started during the year 1940.
For preparing 5100 Laddus, 185 kg of ghee (cow ghee rarefied butter), 200 kg gram flour, 400 kg cashew nuts, 17.5 kg raisins, 10 kg sugar crystals, and 5 kg cardamom are used.
Around 5 years ago, only 1 Lakh Laddus were prepared every day. However, currently, with the help of modernised latest equipment, 3 to 4 Lakh Laddus are prepared every day.
There are 2 varieties of Laddus on offer: the first is known as ‘Kalyana Utsava’ Laddu and the second one is the ordinary Laddu. Kalayana Utsava Laddu, weighing 750 grams, is sold on special recommendation at a price of Rs. 100/- per piece. Ordinary Laddu, weighing about 140 to 170 grams, is sold at a price of Rs. 25/- per piece.
