Behind the making of the laddus lies a massive round-the-clock operation at the temple ‘Potu’, where centuries-old tradition is complemented by modern infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted supply of prasadam to the devotees.
| Photo Credit: File Photo
The famed Tirumala laddu, which has great demand among the pilgrim fraternity, registered its highest-ever monthly sales in May this year, reflecting a sharp rise in pilgrim footfall at the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara.Every day, tens of thousands of devotees carry home the laddu prasadam after offering prayers at the hill shrine.Behind the making of the laddus lies a massive round-the-clock operation at the temple ‘Potu’ (kitchen) - where centuries-old tradition is complemented by modern infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted supply of the prasadam to the devotees.Around 700 Sri Vaishnava Brahmins, assisted by TTD personnel and supervisors, work in shifts throughout the day to prepare them with unwavering devotion, strictly adhering to the traditional “Dittam” standards approved by TTD in 1950-51.The globally acclaimed laddu, which enjoys Geographical Indication (GI) tag and is backed by an FSSAI licence, is produced under stringent quality-control measures.Raw materials procured for the preparation of prasadam undergo laboratory testing before use, while two AI-powered colour-sorting machines installed in the Potu help remove impurities and ensure that only high-quality ingredients are used in the production process.The scale of the operation is also equally remarkable. The TTD consumes more than 68 tonnes of raw materials every day, including sugar, gram flour, ghee, cashew nuts, raisins, cardamom and ‘kalkand’, required in the making of the prasadam.The temple kitchen is supported by specialised units such as the Boondi Potu, Padi Potu and additional production sections, besides a high-capacity flour mill, ghee storage tanks, gas plant and conveyor-based transport systems. On an average, more than 4 lakh laddus are prepared daily, with production enhanced further on the days of heavy turnout in the crowds and festive occasions.For the convenience of devotees, laddus are distributed through 56 counters functioning round the clock in three shifts. Digital payment-enabled kiosks have also been introduced for the purchase of additional laddus, while every devotee is provided one free laddu after darshan. To prevent shortage during peak periods, the TTD maintains a buffer stock ranging from eight lakh to ten lakh laddus.The efficiency of this elaborate system was reflected in May 2026, when the TTD recorded a historic sale of 1.21 crore laddus, surpassing the 1.10 crore laddus sold in May 2025.The milestone highlights both the growing popularity of the Tirumala shrine and the TTD’s ability to preserve the sanctity, quality and tradition of the famed prasadam, while catering to the ever-increasing demand for the laddus, which tastes sweet in every bite. Published - June 03, 2026 08:48 pm IST
