Demonetisation affects Dwaraka Tirumala

Dwaraka Tirumala: The famous pilgrim centre Dwaraka Tirumala was flooded with pilgrims on the third Saturday of the auspicious month of Karthika Masam. Devotees lined up since the early hours of Saturday to have a darshan of Lord Venkateswara. It took an average of three to four hours for darshan.

Executive officer of the temple Vendra Trinadha Rao told The Hans India that although there was a heavy rush of pilgrims on Saturday, it was 10 to 15 percent lesser in number compared to the previous year’s turnout possibly because of demonetisation, resulting in a decrease in income to the temple.

Informing that additional staff has been appointed at the temple to provide facilities to the devotees, he said Anna Prasadam was offered from 9 am to 4 pm.
He said that the income during this season is low comparing to last year. Trinadha Rao said that the temple had netted Hundi income of Rs 91.74 lakh in the last 14 days and that Rs 80,000 of it was in the form of the new Rs 2,000 currency notes.