View of Tirumala Temple.
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The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has urged devotees to maintain cleanliness, emphasising a shared responsibility among pilgrims and staffs.
The notice posted on @Tirumala Updates X handle comes after an increase in daily visitors to the temple leaving it difficult for the TTD cleaning staffs adhere to hygiene standards.
Requesting co-operation in keeping the sacred hill shrine hygiene for everyone, the organisation said, "A humble appeal to all pilgrims: Tirumala is our spiritual home. Due to the rapid increase in the daily footfall, maintaining hygiene has become difficult for the cleaning staff."
The ongoing efforts by the organisation to provide a hygienic environment to its devotees, this time sought to maintain cleanliness "particularly in public restrooms, to preserve the sanctity of the temple."
The post also included a poll, which reads, "Ttd Banned plastics on Tirumala. How many of you are actually following this?"
The awareness post attracted widespread attention online, drawing mixed reactions from netizens.
An user wrote, "It’s time people realise “Cleanliness is godliness “. There is an urgent need to create country wide cleanliness awareness in India."
Another user suggested measures recommending to 'maintain dustbins at every corner and for every 100 to 200M' and sought to keep boards written 'pls put waste in dustbins.'
TTD replied saying that they have taken possible cleanliness measures and stated the rising issues of people keeping the used toilet soaps on the floor instead of disposing it of in the dustbin and failing to flush after usage.
Amid the cleanliness discussion on the platform, a user countered by highlighting the poor infrastructure facility at the temple, which reads, "Infrastructure is crumbling- fitting in toilets are not repaired, aerators are not fitted. All toilets are slippery are water is spilled everywhere as design to wash foot is not provided. Toilets door latches don’t work, hooks are not provided to hang our bags or jerkins."