Wed Nov 20 09:18:01 UTC 2024: ## Temple Canteen Closed After Prasad Deemed Unfit for Consumption
**Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh:** The Baba Balak Nath temple in Hamirpur has closed its main canteen after samples of “prasad” (religious offerings) were found unfit for consumption. The decision, announced Wednesday, follows the release of food safety test results from two months prior. Samples of “rotes,” a sweet offering made of wheat, sugar, and ghee, from both the temple’s canteen and a private shop failed tests conducted by the Composite Testing Laboratory in Solan. Officials attribute the failure to the “rotes” being prepared in bulk and becoming stale over time.
In response, the temple trust, chaired by Barsar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rajendra Gautam, is outsourcing the canteen’s services. This follows the prior outsourcing of another temple canteen and is intended to improve food safety and quality. The tender process for the outsourcing is being expedited.
The issue has prompted action from the state government. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has requested details of the test results and instructed Hamirpur district authorities to guarantee the provision of high-quality “prasad” to devotees. The Hamirpur Deputy Commissioner, Amarjit Singh, announced that the health department will conduct awareness camps on food safety for vendors selling “prasad” and “rotes.” The Baba Balak Nath temple receives approximately 50-75 lakh visitors annually.
First Piper 