Tirumala spruced up for Brahmotsavams

Tirumala: The abode of Lord Venkateswara is decked up to host the nine-day annual Brahmotsavam at Tirumala which would take off with Dwajaraohanam in the temple on Thursday.

Elaborate arrangements are being made for the pilgrims to witness the Vahana Sevas to be held daily during the nine-day fete. Hassle free darshan of presiding deity and distribution of Prasdams are in place for the smooth conduct of the Utsavam.

Briefing newsmen on the Brahmotsavam arrangements here on Tuesday, TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal said that TTD suspended VIP break darshan, limited the issuance of Rs 300 special entry tickets and also other privilege darshan provided to senior citizens, infant mother and other categories to cope with the huge pilgrim influx expected from all over the country to witness the colourful nine-day religious celebrations.

A buffer stock of 7 lakh laddus the most sought after delicious prasadam also kept ready to avoid any shortage of laddus to the devotees. The TTD Security and Vigilance personal would be deployed for smooth movement of pilgrims at all focal points and also to regulate vehicular movement on the hill top temple town, ghat roads and also at Alipiri starting point down the hills.

Parking lots at different locations are ready with a capacity of 7,000 vehicles on the hills. He said on Garuda Seva Day (September 17) 1,000 more police will be involved. The Ghat roads remains open for 24 hours during these days and cranes also requisitioned for clearing stranded vehicles on the ghat roads to ensure smooth vehicular traffic ton hill roads during the fete.

The highlight of this year Brahmotsavam will be the cultural and devotional programmes, Singhal said troupes from Manipur, Gujrat, UP, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu also join along with the teams of two Telugu speaking states to stage.

A wide range of programmes on devotional themes engaging the pilgrims would be organised. Giant LED screens would be put up for the pilgrims to view the cultural programmes and the TTD satellite TV channel SVBC would provide live telecast of Vahana Sevas and other programmes for the sake of global pilgrims.

Engineering works including repairs, illumination, sprucing up the roads, electrification etc. to the tune of Rs 9 crore taken up ahead of Brahmotsavam, he said adding that the Vahana Seva also preponed an hour and will be held from 7 to 9 in the evening instead of 8 to 10 pm earlier, in consultation with Agama advisers, for the convenience of devotees, he averred.

Arrangements in the galleries are fine-tuned keeping in view the previous year experience and the lacuna found he said informing that TTD Annaprasadam Wing is geared to provide food items to two lakh and also distribution of 6 lakh water sachets to the pilgrims waiting to witness Vahana Sevas or in the queue lines.

11 first aid centres, 12 ambulances and 800 additional sanitation staff have been deployed for the annual fete. All our officers, police and district administration are working in coordination towards the success of this mega religious event, EO asserted.

Tirumala JEO KS Srinivasa Raju said that there will be no special entry darshan or issuing of Sarva Darshanam tokens on Garuda Seva Day. Tirupati JEO P Bhaskar, CVSO In-charge Siva kumar Reddy, CE Chandrasekhar Reddy and other senior officers were also present.