Free distribution of ladoo as prasād at the Gnān Saraswati temple in Basar (Telangana) stopped on the pretext of alleged financial loss

Nirmal (Telangana) — The Gnān Saraswati temple in Basar, Nirmal district, where the statue of Saraswatī Māte was personally installed by Maharshi Vyāsmuni, is one of only two Saraswatī temples in all of India — the other is in Kashmir. The temple has a long-standing tradition of bringing small children for their aksharābhyaas, the ceremonial initiation of education in which the child writes the symbol ‘ॐ’ on a bed of rice in the presence of the deity. Until recently the child was given one free ladoo as prasād after the ceremony.

⚠️ 'Financial Loss' Excuse to Stop Free Prasad at Basara Temple

📍Telangana: @HinduJagrutiOrg strongly opposes the decision to stop free Laddu Prasad at Gnana Saraswathi Temple, in Basara – citing “financial loss”

Temple where children perform ‘Aksharabhyasa’

🛑 Under govt… pic.twitter.com/m56hOBEwgt

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) November 13, 2025

A few days ago a notice was put up, stating that the free ladoo given to the children after aksharābhyaas can no longer be provided free of charge because the temple is allegedly suffering a financial loss. The notice said the ladoo’s earlier price of ₹100 has been raised to ₹150, and invited objections to be filed at the temple office within 15 days. The notice was posted on a board at the office of an executive authority about 500 metres from the temple — a place where ordinary devotees seldom go — apparently to avoid informing the general public who come only to the temple for darshan.

The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has strongly protested, demanding that the notice be withdrawn immediately, that the price rise and the decision to stop giving prasād be revoked. The Samiti has warned that it will launch large-scale protests if the Government does not accept this demand.

The Samiti also accused the temple authorities of trying to hide the decision. As soon as the Samiti became aware of the notice, it recorded a video and circulated it widely on social media, urging devotees to lodge their complaints at the temple office or by telephone.

The claim that the temple is suffering a financial loss is demonstrably false, the Samiti says. The Saraswatī temple in Basar is very well known and thousands of devotees visit for the aksharābhyaas ritual. A fee of ₹1,000 is charged for the aksharābhyaas itself, and separate charges are levied for kumkuma worship, ladoo prasād and other rites. Numerous shops within the temple precincts are rented out, generating lakhs of rupees; rooms for lodging are let for a charge, and donations placed in the donation box add substantially to the temple’s funds. For a temple that earns crores of rupees, the claim that it is making a loss on a single prasād-ladoo is entirely untenable, the Samiti said.