Gandhinagar, Mar 14 (PTI) Following a controversy, the Gujarat government on Tuesday announced that ‘mohanthal’, the traditional sweet offering or `prasad’ distributed at the famous Ambaji temple, will be available along with chikki.
Two weeks ago, the Ambaji temple trust in Banaskantha district, headed by a government-appointed administrator, replaced mohanthal, which is made from gram flour, ghee and sugar, with chikki.
The change did not go down well with some Hindu outfits.
The opposition Congress raised the issue in the Assembly and asked the BJP government to reintroduce mohanthal.
Health Minister and government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel on Tuesday said both mohanthal and chikki will be available for devotees at the temple.
“It is up to devotees to choose between the two. We will stop providing chikki if there are no takers for it. Same applies to mohanthal,” he told reporters.
State Congress chief Jagdish Thakor had alleged that some BJP supporters were tampering with tradition to make money, and warned of a state-wide agitation if ‘mohanthal’ was not reintroduced.
Patel had then defended the move claiming that chikki, made from nuts and jaggery, has a longer shelf life and thus it can also be bought online by devotees living far away. PTI PJT ARU KRK KRK
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