Tirumala: Create cordial atmosphere for Srivari Devotees

Tirumala: As Tirumala is revered as the spiritual capital for all Hindus across the world, the local traders and shop-keepers should be friendly and cordial in their gesture towards the multitude of visiting pilgrims and enhance the image of holy precincts, said TTD Additional Executive Officer A V Dharma Reddy.

He was addressing a meeting with the local traders, shop-keepers and bank officials at the Asthana Mandapam in Tirumala and urged them to participate in building eco-friendly environs in the town. To this, the local shop owners also extended their support to TTD in its pilgrim initiatives.

The Additional EO said devotees were contributing crores worth coins to Srivari hundi. TTD is contemplating to hand over coins to traders in the form of packets of Rs 500, Rs 200,Rs 100 and Rs 50 which can be given to devotees by traders. Very soon this system will be implemented by TTD in all places where cash transactions take place.Dharma Reddy advised the traders to follow the TTD guidelines and not to violate licence rules.

Contending that the TTD had banned use of plastic covers in Tirumala, he said the traders should gradually stop using them. Soon even the use of laddu covers would also be banned and as an alternate, either jute or cotton bags would replace laddu covers in future, he observed.