The 'Tirupati Laddu' may get lighter or costlier, here's why

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the trust which manages the Venkateshwara temple atop Tirumala,  is facing a tough situation as sales from the famous 'Tirupati Laddu' is resulting in a loss.

According to a report in The Hindu, TTD chairman C Krishnamurthy on Friday said that the total loss being accrued by way of sale of laddus runs into a staggering Rs 150 crore annually.

The chairman also added that the increase in the price of the raw materials and the variation in the sale price of laddus is contributing to the loss.

The one free laddu being issued to pilgrims reaching the town on foot, which constitute half the number of people visiting the temple and two additional laddus at a subsidized price to the devout, is also making things tough, the management claimed.

The normal price of a 300 gram laddu is Rs.25. The TTD says that use of quality ingredients makes it costly but it sells laddu at a highly subsidised rate, as two laddus are issued at a further subsidized rate of Rs.10 each.

In August this year, the laddu completed its 300th year in production, with the TTD adding that around ninety million laddus were given away to pilgrims in 2014.

The TTD currently has the capacity to produce 300,000 laddus a day.

In lieu of the loss, the options being considered include decreasing the laddu's weight or increase the selling cost. 

The management is in no hurry to arrive at any hasty decision as the issue is not only very sensitive, but also is entwined with the sentiments of of devotees, the report adds.