Discover the Sweet Secrets of Tirupati Laddu: Fascinating Facts and Traditions Behind This Iconic Prasadam

avsjai
Tirupati Laddu Facts

Laddu, or Ladoo, is one of the most important offerings and prasadam given to devotees at the Tirumala Tirupati Lord Venkateswara Temple. Tirupati Laddu is a spherical-shaped sweet made of flour and sugar. In fact, Tirupati and the huge laddus are synonymous. It is a customary duty of a devotee returning from the Tirupati Balaji Temple to distribute 'laddu' as prasadam to his neighbors, friends, and relatives.

Some Quick Facts About Tirupati Laddu

- Around 150,000 laddus are made daily.
- One laddu is given free to each devotee; the number of daily devotees that visit the temple is around 50,000.
- A devotee can buy two extra laddus – a small laddu costs 25 rupees, and a big laddu costs 100 rupees.
- The revenue from the sale of laddu annually is more than 11 million rupees.
- Each laddu weighs around 100 grams and is huge when compared with the normal laddu found in shops.
- There is a super huge Tirupati Laddu known as Kalyana Laddu, and it weighs around 500 grams – ½ a kilogram.
- The single largest laddu made is said to have weighed 32 kg.
- The tradition of Tirupati Laddu is nearly 300 years old.
- It is prepared by special hereditary priests known as archakas in a special temple kitchen known as 'potu'.
- Ingredients used in Tirupati Laddu are Besan flour (kadalai mavu), sugar, cashew nuts, cardamom, ghee, oil, sugar candy, raisins, and almonds.
- On a day, around 5000 kg of Besan flour is used.
- Sugar around 10000 kg.
- Cashew nuts around 600 kg.
- Cardamom 150 kg.
- Ghee 300 liters.
- Sugar candy 400 kg.
- Raisins 540 kg.
- The ingredients are bought at the auction at the Commodities and Spices Exchange in Kochi.
- Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTDs), the administrating body of the temple, is planning to patent the Tirupati Laddu to stop counterfeits.



Source: Tirupati Laddu Facts ~ Hindu Blog
boss2966
Good evening, Mr. AVS. It is really interesting to see the details about the Tirupati Laddus. Normally, we used to eat and forget about the prasadam of Tirupati, but it is amazing to listen. Thanks and keep on sharing.
jeevarathnam
It seems to be quite an interesting discussion. A nice informative post. I would like to add a few more pieces of information on the same.

If I am not mistaken, the weight of a Laddu/Laadu ranges between 135 - 180 grams. No Laddu is given for free, but you will receive a token for 2 Laddus for Rs. 20/-, and if you need more, then it's Rs. 25 per Laddu.

One more interesting piece of information is that a major part of the Ghee and Cashew nuts used is supplied from Karnataka.

Cheers
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