The Siddhivinayak Temple Trust has launched an investigation following viral videos on social media allegedly showing mice crawling over prasad offerings at the famous Siddhivinayak Temple. In the videos, mice are seen on the temple’s laddoo prasad, with some packets of prasad reportedly torn. The Trust is expected to address the media in a press conference on Tuesday to clarify the matter and announce any necessary measures.

The incident comes shortly after controversy erupted at another renowned temple, the Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh, regarding the temple’s famous Tirupati laddoos. On September 18, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that animal fat had been used in the preparation of the Tirupati laddoo during the tenure of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. These claims sparked outrage, with Reddy’s party, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), accusing Naidu of making baseless and “heinous” allegations for political gain.

The Tirupati laddoo, known as the ‘Srivari Laddoo,’ has been an iconic offering at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple for over 300 years. It is considered the preferred naivedyam (offering to the deity) of Lord Venkateswara. The controversy surrounding its ingredients has ignited political tensions in Andhra Pradesh, with both parties trading barbs over the purity and sanctity of the temple’s revered prasad.