Goods and Services Tax has its impact here. Laddu prasadam at the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Yadagirigutta, 50 km from here, just got dearer.
Pilgrims at the temple will have to spend an additional ₹5 on each prasadam preparation, about 25% increase from the existing prices last revised in February 2015. Starting October 20, all items on the naivedyam menu will see new rates. A 100 gm laddu will be sold at an enhanced rate of ₹20, a 250-gm packet of pulihora and daddojanam ₹15 and a 75 gm vada ₹20.
The Abhishekam laddu, which weighs 400 grams and cost ₹60 now, will weigh 500 grams and be sold at ₹100. The ingredients and weight of other prasadam items remain unchanged.
According to temple executive officer N. Geetha, all administrative costs in the temple had seen a rise post GST implementation. “Prasadam preparation costs have gone up with the increase in rates of ingredients, including ghee, cooking gas and labour charges,” she said.
It would also impact the tax payment in its annual revenue of approximately ₹75 crore.
“We are estimating the overall tax at ₹8 crore,” Ms. Geetha said. An increase in the rate would ensure quality and also proper maintenance of the kitchens.
The kitchen now located in the makeshift facility of the temple, about 300 metres away from the original Garbagriha, rolls out almost 10,000 laddus on a week day, and an additional 10,000 at weekends and on holidays.
The shrine is currently under renovation.