Annadanam, the best among TTD services

Tirupati: More than any other services being provided by TTD, the free distribution of food has telling impact on the pilgrims visiting Tirumala. TTD has well-oiled machinery for providing facilities like accommodation, darshan and distribution of the most sought after delicious laddu prasadams that are mainly required by the pilgrims and also a host of other free services like tonsure and free transport for needed by the devotees in Tirumala, but they are not free from complaints and criticism that are perennial.

For one reason or other, getting accommodation and a darshan is remaining a difficult task for the common pilgrims as they have to wait hours to get a room and also to a have a glimpse of the Lord. It is needless to say that the ordeal of the pilgrims is much more during weekends, holidays and festive occasions for accommodation and darshan.

Against this back drop, there is no wonder TTD’s Annaprasadam service i.e. free food winning the heart of the multitude of pilgrims as it is readily available that too with no difficulty, right from morning to midnight to the pilgrims in Tirumala, carving a niche for itself. 

This seems to be the reason behind the donations pouring to Sri Venkateswara Annaprasadam Trust (SVAT) crossing Rs 1,000 crore mark. TTD set up the trust for receiving donations for the effective implementation free Annaprasadam and also providing beverages to the visiting pilgrims.

A glance on the details of the donations SVAT received reveal that the overwhelming number of contributions is humble amounts ranging from Rs 1,000 (which is minimum amount fixed by TTD) to Rs 99,999. In other words, donations from the common devotees.

The total number of donors to SVAT up to September 5 this year was 4.94 lakh in which 4.94 lakh is in the category of Rs 1,000 to less than one lakh. While the number of donors in the next category of Rs 1 lakh to below Rs 5 lakh is 29,400; Rs 5 lakh to below Rs 10 lakh is 2,309; Rs 10 lakh to below Rs 1 crore 2,121 and one crore and above 55.

SVAT special officer Venugopal said the TTD streamlined the distribution of free food service with no waiting for the pilgrims in Annadanam complex where free food available to devotees from 9 in the morning to midnight to about 70,000 and also in SV Guest House and Madhavam PAC. A pilgrim Elumalai from Chennai observed that for the pilgrims tired of long journey, the free food provided by the TTD is like nectar.

Many pilgrims, who echoed the same view said “we were virtually torn to pieces with the long journey and later waiting for hours at the reception counters for getting rooms and in the queue complex for darshan.

But, the free food and beverages readily provided to us at all these points giving much relief and lessening our fatigue lauding TTD free food service. Venugopal said that the appreciation of the devotees is the mantra behind Annaprasadam donation scheme becoming a thumping success. He said in the recent years the receiving of donations gathered momentum.