Darshan possible only for 30,000 per day: TTD EO

Tirupati: TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal on Friday said that darshan during the six-day period of Ashtabandhana Balalaya Maha Samprokshanam is possible upto a maximum of 1.9 lakh pilgrims.

In other words at the maximum, daily about 30,000 pilgrims can avail darshan during the ritual period against the normal flow of 70,000 pilgrims on an average daily. 

Speaking to media after the monthly `Dial your EO programme' at AnnamayyaBhavan in Tirumala on Friday, Singhal explained the importance of the religious event of MahaSamprokshanam to be held from August 11 to 16. He said the importance is given to rituals rather than darshan of pilgrims during this period as this unique religious fete is observed once in 12 years in the famed temple.  

"So the possibility of providing darshan to pilgrims is very limited as we have announced earlier. We have cancelled all formats of tickets issuing darshans including VIP break. So the pilgrims are requested to plan their pilgrimage accordingly", he maintained.

Later, he clarified that the reason behind introducing VIP break in Tiruchanoor temple is only to ensure hassle free darshan to common pilgrims. "Elaborate arrangements are in the offing for Vara Lakshmi Vratam in Tiruchanoor on August 24", he said. 

The  EOalso informed that elaborate arrangements for the two Brahmotsvams this year, in September and October, will be completed soon i.e. a month ahead of the start of the mega religious celebrations. PushkariniHarathi, which was suspended for taking up repairs in the temple tank, will be resumed from August 10. 

He said a Committee was set up to look into the demands of the employees who are on war path and set  a dead line to TTD to resolve their 22 demands on or before August 15. He said the demands which are in the purview of TTD will be settled first.  

The TTD netted an income of Rs 103 crore through hundi offerings in July month during which about 23.64 lakh devotees had darshan of the  Lord. Several TTD senior officials were present at the press meet.