Tirumala witnesses unprecedented pilgrim rush

Owing to the summer vacation hill shrine of Lord Sri Venkateswara atop Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh has been witnessing unprecedented rush of pilgrims over the last few days.

In the last five days alone, 4,32,213 devotees had darshan of Lord Venkateswara. More than 90,000 devotees visited the temple on May 16 and 17. Likewise, the number of devotees offering tonsure also increased significantly. More than 43,000 devotees offered hair on May 18, 19, and 20.

According to TTD officials, during the last five days, nearly 19 lakh devotees were served Annaprasadams, tea, coffee, milk, and buttermilk at various locations in Tirumala.

“In the last five days, a sea of humanity witnessed in Tirumala and is expected to continue for the next few weeks. TTD has made extensive arrangements for the convenience of devotees,” said a senior TTD official on Thursday.

As accommodation facilities in Tirumala are limited, TTD can allot accommodation only to around 60,000 devotees at a time. 9,000 lockers are available in PAC-1, PAC-2, PAC-3, PAC (Padmanabha Nilayam), and PAC-5. All these facilities are presently fully occupied with overcrowding.

TTD has also made elaborate arrangements for devotees offering tonsure to the Sri Venkateshwara. Along with the main Kalyanakatta, 11 mini Kalyanakattas are functioning for devotees 24×7.

Special sheds have been erected around the Srivari Temple surroundings, Laddu counters, and other high-footfall areas. Further, synthetic enamel cool paint has been applied on the four Mada Streets to protect devotees from ground heat. Temporary toilets have also been arranged along the queue lines from Batagangamma Temple Circle to Outer Ring Road.

Hundreds of Srivari Sevaks are continuously distributing drinking water and Annaprasadams to devotees waiting in outside serpentine queue lines in round the clock shifts.

Similarly, under the supervision of the TTD Health Department, mobile water drums are being used in crowded areas to provide drinking water to devotees waiting in outside lines through Srivari Sevaks.

In accordance with the crowd situation, a mobile first-aid center has also been kept available along the queue lines on the Outer Ring Road.

“Keeping in view the severe summer conditions, the entire TTD machinery is making dedicated efforts to provide essential facilities such as shade, cool atmosphere, drinking water, Annaprasadams, cleanliness, accommodation, tonsure services, and laddus for devotees,” said the TTD official.

Meanwhile, officials and staff from various departments are continuously monitoring the darshan queue lines, Narayanagiri sheds, and compartments in Vaikuntham Queue Complex round the clock to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience.

Devotee Rush Statistics for the Last Five Days :

May 20

Darshan - 86,315.

Tonsures - 44,107

Anna prasadam served - 3,99,380

May 19

Darshan - 84,412

Tonsures - 43,032

Anna prasadam served - 4,03,810

May 18

Darshan - 80,455

Tonsures - 43,309

Anna prasadam served - 3,42,670

May 17

Darshan - 91,020

Tonsures - 35,193

Anna prasadam served - 3,81,210

May 16

Darshan - 90,011

Tonsures - 39,083

Anna prasadam served – 4,20,085