×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

No more jostling as queue system aids Tirumala pilgrims

Brainchild of TTD gets positive feedback
Last Updated 23 July 2014, 20:35 IST

The new three-layer queue system to reach the last 20 feet of the sanctum sanctorum at Tirumala temple has been successful, with devotees having hassle- free darshan of the Lord without being pushed and prodded by the volunteers.

The system, introduced by the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) from May 29, has received positive feedback from pilgrims who have expressed satisfaction about the darshan.

A brainchild of TTD chief executive M G Gopal, the new system helps pilgrims form three separate lines so that they could spend the approximately 20 feet of darshan from Garudalwar to Jayavijaya idols without being hurried by the volunteers or by fellow pilgrims.

TTD engineers have set up platforms at three different heights to let the pilgrims pass through the last stretch of their darshan without interruption.

The first row is at the floor level, second row is 7 inches higher and third row is 17 inches higher from the floor level. This  system enables pilgrims to have unimpeded darshan of the Lord.

“Generally, the distance between the Sanctum Sanctorum and where the Mahalaghu darshan queue ends would be 70 feet. The same would be 50 feet in the case of Laghu darshan.

About 20 feet from the Sanctum, the queues will merge, causing chaos as devotees jostle to have a good look at the Lord. This forces intervention of the Seva dal volunteers,” a TTD spokesperson said, adding the darshan is clearer from three different heights.

Since the platforms are makeshift, they would be removed during Arjita Seva and reinstated after the special darshan concludes. TTD officials are upbeat as the three-layer darshan has increased the hourly count of the pilgrims.

“Earlier close to 4,000 devotees used to have darshan per hour, but the three-layer queue allows anywhere between 4,200-4,300 devotees,” the TTD release said.

The Devasthanam’s data revealed 20, 82,704 devotees had the Lord’s darshan in June 2013, while 20, 95,695 visited the shrine in the same month in 2014, an increase of 12,991 pilgrims after the three-layer system was introduced  in the Srivari temple.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 23 July 2014, 20:35 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT