Devotees flood Dwaraka Tirumala despite govt order

Dwaraka Tirumala: Thousands of devotees thronged the pilgrim centre of Dwaraka Tirumala in West Godavari district on Monday.

Following Government order, the Sri Venkateswara Swamyvari Devasthanam of Dwaraka Tirumala did not decorate the temple unlike the previous new-years’ days. Despite the underplayed festivities, devotees continued to rally at the temple to have a darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara.

The devotees were disappointed following the cancellation of special prayers in spite of the temple making necessary arrangements for the same. The devotees felt that the Devasthanam would continue special prayers at least in the 
temple.

Rudra Naresh, a devotee from Niamarru Village in West Godavari said that the temple was decorated with colourful lighting and Rangavalli every year on New Year’s Day. “I used to visit the temple every year to have a darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara. The temple looked very beautiful with the decorations of colourful lighting and Rangavalli. This time, the famous temple looks like any other temple in the village. I am very much disappointed”, he added.

Another devotee, Kammineni Prabhakar of Yadlapalli village said every year he used to visit the temple on New Year’s Day and offer his hair to the Lord with a belief that throughout the year good deeds will occur to him. “I came here to offer my hair to the Lord and done it. I feel happy on my visit to the temple. However, it is disappointing that no special prayers offered in the temple,” he stated.

Temple officials said that an estimated 30,000 devotees reached Dwaraka Tirumala to have the darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara this time. “Every year this may vary between 35,000 to 40,000,” they said.