Video: Pawan Kalyan begins 11-day purification ritual after Tirupati Laddu controversy

After the Tirupati Laddu prasadam row, actor turned politician Pawan Kalyan who is also the deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh performed a purification ritual as a part of his 11 day Prayaschitta Diksha. The ritual is being performed to atone after animal fat was reported to be found in the Temple's laddu prasad.

Videos on the internet went viral, where Pawan Kalyan is seen in traditional cleansing practices alongside several other members. He initiated an 11-day purification ritual, known as Prayaschitta Diksha, to atone for what he described as a personal affront to his faith and cultural values while addressing the media.

He also expressed being deeply hurt as he said, "I am deeply hurt on a personal level by the malicious attempts made to infuse impurity in the prasad of Sri Tirupati Balaji Dham, the centre of our culture, faith, belief and devotion, and to tell you the truth, I feel cheated from within."

As part of his atonement, he plans to walk to Tirumala via the Alipiri route on October 1 and will seek blessings at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple on October 2. He intends to conclude his ritual by addressing the Varahi Sabha in Tirupati on October 3.

For the unknown, the controversy erupted after a Gujarat-based laboratory confirmed that animal fat was used in the preparation of the Tirupati laddu, leading to public outrage.