Annavaram temple too to introduce dress code

Rajamahendravaram: Following the footsteps of Tirumala temple and Kanakadurga temple, the management of Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy temple, popularly known as Annavaram temple, has decided to introduce dress code to the devotees for the darshan of the Lord. The code will come into force on July 1 this year.

According to temple executive officer (EO) M V Suresh Babu, the male devotees should wear lungi, kanduva and shirt while female devotees have to wear sari, chunni with dress for the darshan of the Lord. In Kanakadurga temple and Tirumala temple, the managements have been implementing the more or less same dress code.

Bio-metric system will also be introduced for allotting rooms for the devotees at the hill shrine hereafter, as many complaints are being received over booking of rooms. The new system helps to get rooms without any recommendations. Deposit amount will also be refunded to the devotees after vacating the rooms through biometric system.

The temple management will take a stern action against the shop owners who sell the puja and other material at prices higher than the rates fixed by temple management. As part of it, the temple management would issue notice to the respective shop owner on first complaint and licence would be cancelled if second complaint is received, said EO Suresh Babu.

The devotees will not be allowed at East and West rajagopurams after 9 pm and performing of marriages at main rajagopuram has been as part of security measures. Special rooms will also be arranged at main rajagopuram to keep mobile phones and luggage of devotees. Central reception office will also be shifted to the backside of Prakash Sadan.

Online reservation system will come into force after endowments department commissioner accorded permission, the EO said while adding sub-canteens at various places on the hills would also come up for the convenience of the devotees. The management is giving top priority to facilities to the devotees along with accommodation, hassle-free darshan, etc., Suresh Babu said.