In Hyderabad, amidst controversy surrounding the Tirupati laddu and allegations of adulteration, skilled artisans residing near the foothills of Tirumala are preparing to apply for a geographical indication tag for their intricate wooden sculptures of Lord Balaji and other deities, a tradition that has spanned over a century. Renowned for their detailed wood carvings known as Madhavamala, these artisans create lifelike idols of various gods and goddesses, as well as decorative items such as dolls, toys, doors, windows, pooja mandapams, pillars, and furniture. The Sri Balaji Wood Carvings Mutually Aided Cooperative Society Limited, representing 510 artisans from 309 families involved in Madhavamala wood carvings, will submit the GI application later this month with the support of NABARD. This will be the 20th GI application from Andhra Pradesh, facilitated by GI expert Subhajit Saha in collaboration with NABARD.