Puri temple administration restricts use of adulterated ghee

Puri: Imposing restrictions on the use of adulterated desi ghee in the Puri Jagannath Temple, the administration today warned vendors from stopping the practice in and outside the shrine premises.

District Collector Arvind Agarwal said all arrangements have been ensured so that only pure ghee from OMFED will be used to light diyas. The ghee is being provided at rates lower than market prices so that shopkeepers do not sell any other types of ghee inside and outside the temple. “A strict directive has been issued to all vendors to avail Omfed manufactured ghee,” he said.

“We have imposed the guidelines from September. Today, I along with the chief administrator visited the temple and took stock of the matter. During inspection we seized stocks of ghee of other brands from some vendors. Rules will be made stricter from tomorrow,” he added.

The temple administration had earlier written a letter to Odisha’s milk federation requesting it to provide pure ghee, a move aimed at preventing possible threat to the temple rocks due to smoke released from diyas lighted with impure ghee.