Tirumala Food Stalls Restore Focus On Southern Cuisine, Improving Hygiene & Eliminating Junk Food

Food stalls across Tirumala, the famous temple town in Tirupati, are bringing the focus back to the local cuisine of Andhra Pradesh. In a bid to preserve the devotional atmosphere of the town, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has launched a drive to restore traditional food culture and eliminate fast food. Scroll on to know more about this initiative.

South Indian Cuisine Over Fast Food In Tirumala, Tirupati

According to Deccan Chronicle, food stalls and eateries across Tirumala are gradually eliminating Indo-Chinese food items and fast foods from their menu, in favour of traditional South Indian cuisine. This is part of TTD’s cultural drive, spearheaded by additional executive officer Venkaiah Chowdary, to maintain the sanctity of the famous hill shrine.

With an aim to bring back wholesome, culturally rooted meals, TTD has been actively hosting drives that focus on phasing out Chinese and junk food from local eateries. They have also been meeting with food stall owners to urge them to replace spicy, oil-heavy dishes with simpler meals, with a focus on traditional South Indian cuisine.

Interestingly, more than three dozen eateries around the town have voluntarily adopted the new model. Deccan Chronicle’s report shows they have actively replaced famous items like gobi manchurian, noodles and fried rice with idli, dosa, vada, sambar rice, rasam rice, and other mild, easily digestible food options.

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Focus On Hygiene & Cultural Appreciation

The decision to urge local eateries in Tirumala to adopt a traditional menu came after authorities received many complaints about smoke and strong smells that came from heavily spiced foods prepared from eateries across the town. TTD then started this initiative and has been urging vendors to serve food that “reflects the spiritual identity of Tirumala.”

Besides food, a lot of importance has also been given to hygiene and food quality. Reports suggest that with counselling and logistical support, over 90% of hoteliers and eatery owners have now secured licenses from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) along with necessary certifications from the TTD’s Panchayat, Revenue, and Health departments.

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What are your thoughts on this initiative? Let us know in the comments.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons