CHENNAI: Soon devotees will be able to relish breakfast and dinner as part of ‘annadhanam’ (free meals) at select major temples in the state with Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) department planning to roll out a diabetic-friendly, healthy menu.The initiative is planned at 17 major temples in the state, including Srirangam, Palani, Tiruvannamalai and Tiruchendur. Annadhanam is served typically from 8am to 10pm in major temples in the state.“This is in the discussion stage. Usually, rice and accompaniments are served to the devotees. But many elderly people and diabetics are unable to partake the food. So, we are contemplating on serving healthy food. We are checking the kitchen capacity and other aspects to see if it can be implemented,” said HR&CE minister C Ramesh. “We will decide on the timing and menu after consulting with the devotees,” he said.Ramesh on Friday launched the scheme to standardise the preparation and sale of prasadam at temples in the state. He distributed prasadam prepared by the administration of Parthasarathy Swamy Temple in Triplicane to devotees.The HR&CE department has prescribed standard ingredient ratios, production cost, portion and retail prices for 10 common temple offerings, aiming to ensure uniformity in quality and pricing while improving hygiene and transparency.“Quality has always been a concern. Contractors manufacture prasadam and supply it in packets. In some places, vendors change the labels carrying the manufacturing dates, making it difficult for devotees to ascertain whether the products had expired. We are therefore encouraging temples with the necessary facilities to prepare prasadam on their premises,” Ramesh added.The department has prescribed detailed cost-accounting procedures for each batch, covering raw materials, LPG, labour, hygienic packaging and incidental administrative expenses. Raw materials will include certified Aavin ghee and supplies procured at cooperative store rates. Packaging costs, including standard eco-friendly leaf cups, or ‘thonnai’, and sealed boxes, have also been factored in.It has directed temples to comply with the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, for packaged prasadam and other products. Packages must carry the manufacturer’s, packer’s or importer’s name and complete address, generic name of the commodity, net quantity, month and year of manufacture or packing, maximum retail price and unit sale price wherever applicable, besides consumer contact details for complaints.
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