Ayodhya Ram Temple Gets FSSAI Certification: The Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya has received the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) ‘Eat Right Place of Worship’ certification.
The temple has met the food safety and hygiene standards set by the authority.
FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani handed over the certificate during a special ceremony in Ayodhya. The certification will remain valid for two years. It recognises the temple for meeting the prescribed food safety and hygiene standards. The FSSAI initiative aims to promote food safety and hygiene at religious places.
What does the FSSAI certification mean for devotees?
The certification means that the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple has met the food safety and hygiene standards set by FSSAI. It recognises the temple under the authority’s ‘Eat Right Place of Worship’ initiative.
The initiative focuses on promoting food safety and hygiene at places of worship. However, the certification does not mean that all religious places have received the same recognition. It should be noted that the certification granted to the Ayodhya temple is valid for two years.
Ayodhya temple sees more devotees during Navratri
The certification comes as the number of devotees visiting the Ayodhya temple has increased with the beginning of Navratri. Ram Janmabhoomi Temple trustee Mahant Dinendra Das said the Ramkot Parikrama has been taking place for around one and a half to two years, news agency ANI reported. The event attracts devotees from different places.
“Ramkot Parikrama has been taking place for around one and a half to two years, attracting devotees from different places,” Das said.
He said devotees from Sultanpur and Basti had arrived in Ayodhya to perform the parikrama and seek the blessings of Ram Lalla. Das also said the beginning of Navratri had led to an increase in the number of visitors.
Navratri draws devotees to temples across India
Thousands of devotees visited prominent temples across the country on Sunday to offer prayers and seek blessings as Navratri began.
In Jammu and Kashmir, pilgrims arrived in large numbers at the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. Long queues were seen at Darshani Deodi, the starting point of the uphill trek to the shrine. The Vaishno Devi Bhawan was also illuminated with lights.
Large crowds also gathered at the historic Sukrala Mata temple in Billawar, Kathua district. The temple premises were decorated with flowers and fruits. Local authorities made security and civic arrangements to manage the influx of devotees.
On a Separate Note: FSSAI takes action over food safety violations
Last week, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) suspended the licence of M/s Biolife Remedies LLP with immediate effect over serious food safety violations. The action followed an inspection of the company’s food premises. Officials found poor sanitary and hygienic conditions in the manufacturing and storage areas. Dirt, sludge, cobwebs and fungal or mould growth were also observed.
Officials also found expired flavours on the premises that were reportedly being used during food processing. Several raw materials did not have proper identification, labelling or traceability.
Earlier, FSSAI had taken action against a bakery unit and ordered the recall of a batch of pre-packed cumin powder following food safety violations.
The authority had also issued a recall order to M/s Everest Food Products Private Limited for its pre-packed cumin powder. According to the notice, a regulatory sample was collected from the premises of Riverside Resorts & Holiday Homes Pvt. Ltd. in Goa.
The Food Analyst’s report found that the product contained residues of the pesticides Azoxystrobin and Thiamethoxam above the prescribed maximum limits.