IIT Kanpur Developing Laddu-Making Machine for Kedarnath Temple Prasad; Device to Reduce Women’s Manual Labour

Kanpur/Dehradun: A major breakthrough is underway in the preparation of prasad offered at the revered Kedarnath Temple. Researchers at IIT Kanpur are developing a special machine that will help Self-Help Group (SHG) women in Rudraprayag prepare chaulai–jaggery laddus with far less physical strain and significantly more efficiency.

These laddus, made from amaranth seeds (chaulai) and jaggery, are currently shaped manually—pressed by hand into moulds—causing severe fatigue and discomfort to the women who prepare them daily.

Why the Innovation Was Needed

Professor Satyaki Roy, Head of the Design Department at IIT Kanpur, explained that during a field visit to Rudraprayag two years ago with a PhD student, they closely observed the difficult manual process of making these prasad laddus. Women from local self-help groups prepare the offerings for the Kedarnath temple by pressing the mixture into moulds using their hands, which leads to pain and requires significant effort.

The idea of creating a mechanical device was born from this realisation.

Testing Better Moulds

A key challenge was that jaggery causes the mixture to stick to the moulds. For this reason, moulds made from different materials—wood, aluminium, steel, and other metals—are currently being tested to determine the most efficient, non-stick option.

Professor Roy said work on developing improved moulds is in progress and forms an important part of the machine.

How the Machine Works

The device uses a lever–pulley mechanism. The laddu mixture is placed into 4–5 moulds at the base, and a gentle pressure from above shapes multiple laddus instantly.
This method is not only more convenient but also drastically reduces manual effort.

The PhD scholar, Mithun, is conducting the research under the sponsorship of the Design Innovation Centre. So far, 7–8 prototypes have been developed. Women in Rudraprayag—led by Kanchan and her team—are actively testing each prototype and giving feedback to improve the final version.

What This Means for SHG Women

Once fully developed, the machine will allow women to produce more prasad in less time, help avoid hand strain, and create a more consistent product—ultimately supporting both their livelihood and the temple’s ever-increasing demand for prasad.