Pawan Kalyan walks barefoot to Tirumala temple amidst Tirupati laddu controversy

Amidst the ongoing controversy regarding the Tirupati laddu issue, Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM and actor Pawan Kalyan paid a barefoot visit to the Tirumala temple . In recent pictures going viral on Twitter, Pawan was seen appearing tired at one point, taking a moment to sit down before continuing his climb up the Alipiri Srivari Padala steps.

According to The Times of India, Pawan’s journey to Tirumala is part of his 'Prayaschitha Deeksha' (. During his three-day visit to the temple city, he fulfilled his vow by arriving at Alipiri, where he performed special rituals at the Paadala Mandapam, located at the base of the Tirumala hills, before starting his sacred trek to the hilltop shrine.

In a recently shared video, he was seen struggling while taking the Alipiri Srivari Padala steps, resting briefly before resuming the trek. Pawan is undertaking an 11-day foot march as part of his penance to seek forgiveness from Lord Venkateswara , following the alleged adulteration of Tirupati temple's sacred laddus. Declaring himself a protector of Sanatana Dharma, he spoke to reporters about his commitment to the faith, suggesting that the laddu controversy might have prompted his decision to embark on the march.

Allegations of laddu adulteration during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's government have sparked significant debate. Andhra Pradesh's former Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, responded by launching a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the issue. However, the investigation has been halted following the Supreme Court's request for the Solicitor General's assistance in the matter.

The ongoing laddu controversy has also drawn actor Karthi into the spotlight after his inadvertent comment during a promotional event for 'Meiyazhagan' was countered by Andhra Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister. Karthi later apologized, and his apology was acknowledged by the politician-actor. The issue also ignited an online clash between actors Prakash Raj and Vishnu Manchu.

On the work front, Pawan Kalyan is gearing up for the release of 'They Call Him OG', 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu', and 'Ustaad Bhagat Singh'.