Steps for Vaikunta Ekadasi inspected

Tirupati: The TTD speeded up ongoing works for the ensuing Vaikunta Ekadasi and Dwadasi which will be held on December 18 and 19. In Tirumala shrine, Vaikunta Ekadasi is the major religious festival after Brahmotsavams.

Every year, lakhs of devotees visit Tirumala for Lord’s darshan on Ekadasi and Dwadasi days. On Tuesday, Tirumala JEO KS Srinivas Raju along with engineering officials inspected the ongoing works for Ekadasi and Dwadasi festivals. This time, the TTD officials making waiting arrangements for devotees at Kalyana Vedika and also at new Srivari Sevasadan.

Meanwhile, a decision was taken by the TTD that darshan would be provided to VIPs for only first five hours on the Ekadasi day. The remaining day, entry would be for common devotees only. Speaking to the media, the JEO said that pilgrims would be allowed to enter the compartments of Vaikuntam 2 through MBC 26th gate from 10 am onwards on December 17.

After the compartments of VQC 2 and then VQC 1 get filled, the pilgrims will be allowed to enter into sheds. On the Vaikunta Ekadasi, sarva darshan would begin on December 18th by 5.30 am and lasts up to midnight of December 19.

For the last one week, the TTD Engineering Department officials are busy in completing works related to both festivals. In the context, TTD EO Anil Kumar Singhal, JEO KS Srinivasa Raju and CVSO Gopinath Jetti are closely monitoring the Vaikunta Ekadasi arrangements.

The TTD is expecting more than 2 lakh devotees for Ekadasi and Dwadasi this time. According to information, queue lines are being covered to safeguard devotees from chill weather and snow. Darshan would be provided to common pilgrims for two days.

For facilitating the devotees, EO Singhal has already instructed to the SV Nitya Annadanam officials to make arrangements for distribution of the free food and beverages like coffee, tea, milk, buttermilk and water.

At the same time, TTD Public Relations Department would also draft 3,000 more Srivari Sevaks on the auspicious days of Ekadasi and Dwadasi to serve food and water for devotees round-the-clock at queue lines. Apart from four existing dispensaries, the TTD Health Department is going to deploy additional five more medical teams for service of devotees.