GI tag for Tirupati Temple Offering: Official recognition to the ‘laddoo maker’ ?

Lord Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh (India), popularly known as Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) is the richest temple in the world. Tirupati Temple has crossed another mile stone in the commercialization drive by securing Geographic Indication (GI) tag for the famous and delicious ‘Tirumala laddoo’ offered as ‘prasadam’ (sacred food) to the devotees.

The trust that administers the Tirumala Tirupati Temple had applied for the GI certification last year with the chennai-based Geographical Indication Registry under Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. The conferment of GI tag on ‘Tirupati laddu’ would ban others from making and marketing the ‘laddus’ under the same name. Under the GI statute, the certified goods should be produced or processed or prepared only in the region or territory under mention, and the given quality, reputation or other characteristic of such goods is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. The GI status gives the Tirumala laddus a built-in legal protection and makes any infringement of the rights a cognisable offence.

The temple trust sources say that the exercise is aimed at effectively tackling the production and marketing of ‘spurious and fake laddus’ in and around Tirupati by some unscrupulous elements making the gullible pilgrims as their target. With the grant of the G.I. Certification, the ‘Tirumala laddus’ are now protected under law and the temple trust gets the exclusive right to use the Geographical Indication. What makes the ‘Tirumala laddus’ so unique and so much sought-after, as to make the TTD management go in for its copyright (G.I.) is its distinct flavour and its deliciousness. A range of rich spices like saffron, refined camphor, cashew nuts, dry-grapes, cardamum besides luscious ghee go into the making of the laddus.

Interestingly, the GI Act meant is for the protection of “Goods” only and the act defines “Goods” as any agricultural, natural or manufactured goods or any goods of handicraft or of industry. Of course, ‘Tiruppathi Laddu’ cannot be classified as one among agricultural goods, natural goods or handicraft, leaving an option to schedule it under industrial goods. But it is quite hard to believe that temple offerings are equivalent to manufactured goods or commercially significant commodities.

In a similiar commercial endeavor, Attukal Bhagavathy Temple trust in Thiruvananthapuram had trademarked the picture of its deity. While the Trademark on the picture of deity proclaims the fact of Trade in Temples, the Official GI tag on Tiruppati laddu is exemplary of strategic commercialisation of Temple Offerings (Prasadams), branding them as commodities. Trademark secured by Attukal Temple Trust and the GI certification obtained by Tirupati Temple Trust pass a wrong message to the public that a place of worship also is a “business outfit” or “origin of trade and commerce”.

The Temple Trusts might have sought IPR protection over “faith indicators” under a false impression that they would get a “monopoly” on those divine symbols. However it appears as if the greedy temple trusts are dragging themselves to the litigation arena. It is worth mentioning here that “monopoly” is an alien to “democracy”, and hence banned in a democratic republic. However “exclusive rights” for the “products of creative mind” are being allowed as Intellectual Property Rights with reasonable restrictions, only because it is essential for industrial growth.

At any rate, it is dangerous and objectionable to have religious symbols appropriated for business. Mixing religion with IPR will have serious consequences. It is like boosting carnal desire by drug abuse.