No VIP break darshan: TTD gears up for summer pilgrim rush at Tirumala

Tirumala: TTD has made elaborate arrangements to handle a heavy pilgrim influx during three months of summer vacation.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthnam has decided to cancel VIP break darshan for a few months.

Summer vacation is the busiest time in Tirumala, where devotees even had to spend 36 hours to have a glimpse of the presiding deity under the Sarvadarshan category. During this time, 2 to 3 hours were allotted to VIPs and the remaining 15 hours were allotted to ordinary devotees to have darshan.

Speaking to the media on Friday, TTD EO AV Dharma Reddy said that the TTD board has resolved to cancel VIP break darshan during the ensuing summer, thereby ensuring more darshan time for the common devotees, during the last Board meeting.

Some excerpts of the summer arrangements:

* For the convenience of common devotees TTD has canceled the VIP break Darshan on recommendation letters giving more darshan hours to common devotees.

* Non-stop distribution of Anna Prasadam, buttermilk, snacks, and medical facilities to the devotees waiting in the queue lines, compartments, outside lines, etc.

* Cool paintings and drinking water points all along the Mada streets and Narayanagiri Gardens.

* 2500 Srivari Sevakulu apart from Scouts and Guides deployed to assist devotees during the summer rush.

* Effective strategy and preparations made by TTD forest department and Government fire department to avert flash fire accidents in Seshachala forest regions during summer hot days.

* Appeal to devotees to not waste water and to use it diligently given water scarcity during summer days.

March 2024 Statistics:

Darshan-21.10lakh pilgrims

Hundi-Rs.118.49crore

Laddu Sales-1.01crore numbers

Annaprasadam-42.85lakh devotees

Kalyanakatta-7.86lakh devotees

It may be recalled that soon after the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)came into force in Andhra Pradesh, the TTD stopped accepting recommendation letters for darshan and accommodation.