- By Manali Deshpande
2022.04.01 (Vrindavan Today News): Now, you will not have to worry about the quality of ‘prasad’ being distributed in the temples of Prem Mandir and Iskcon. These temples will receive the required certificate for matching standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Every year millions of devotees visit the holy cities of Mathura and Vrindavan for darshan and offer their prayers in different temples. In the course of their visit, they go to the temples for darshan and offer Bhog to the deities procuring it from the temple stalls. It is believed that deity partakes in the Bhog and consecrates into Prasad. The Prasad is then distributed among the devotees, who takes Lord’s blessing by eating the ‘prasad’ offered in the temple and taking it to home.
- Prasad offered to Shri Krishna is ensured to be pure and of best quality
- Audit report on Prem Mandir and ISKCON Temple, Vrindavan submitted to Govt. of India.
- Quality Certificate to be issued soon.
- Under the Govt. of India, FSSAI and Private firm conducted multifold investigation to ensure the best quality Prasad distributed to devotees coming for Darshan from all around the country and globe.
The ‘Bhog’ offered in these temples have gone through strict tests and quality checks so that it meets the high-quality standards set by Govt. of India. Based on these inspections Govt. of India will issue quality standard certificates to Prem Mandir and ISKCON Temple.
Food Safety Department and the government nominated independent agency have performed different levels of stringent quality tests of the ‘prasad’ distributed in these temple. The Food Safety authorities have submitted their report to the Central Government, which focusses on the cleanliness maintained during the preparation of ‘bhog’ and purity of ‘prasad’. In this regard, Central Govt. nominated independent agency has completed the first and second levels of audit. The ‘agency’ has submitted detailed audit report to the Central Govt. The Food Audit also covered the cleanliness of the kitchen, health of cooking staff, quality of water and overall atmosphere. The private agency also confirmed that the precautions to prevent the menace of rodents and pests are in place.
Shri. Ajay Tripathi of Prem Mandir, Vrindavan and Shri Ravi Lochan Das, PRO of ISCKON Temple, Vrindavan confirmed that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and audit team have conducted inspection and reviewed the administration and system.
Dr. Gouri Shankar, An official from the Food Safety and Drug Administration, Mathura stated that as part of inspection process, independent agency ‘Origa’ has been appointed. The agency has done the first and second levels of Audit on cleanliness and quality. The reports have been submitted to Govt. of India. Kitchen staffs have undergone health checkups. He further stated that the underlying purpose is to ensure that the ‘bhog’ is being prepared under hygienic conditions and of best quality. He also said the Shri Krishna Janmabhumi is also undergoing the process of ‘food auditing’.
Temples free of pests and rodents – Certificate issued.
Both the temples of ISKCON and Prem Mandir have been issued a certificate from a private agency that the premises are free of pests and rodents.
Varanasi and Kanpur temples already received certificates on quality of Prasad.
Temples of Varanasi and Kanpur have already been issued certificates by Govt. of India for maintaining good quality of Prasad.
