TTD begins special darshan on booking

Special darshan at Tirumala for those who made their advance bookings through internet and e-darshan counters on August 20 began on Wednesday, with nearly 400 pilgrims who originally made their bookings failing to turn up.

Speaking to the media after launching the special darshan at the Travelers Cottage (TBC) 129 on Tirumala hills, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Executive Officer M G Gopal said the darshan for those who had bought Rs 300 special entry darshan tickets (one week in advance) was launched on Wednesday.

The EO said ensuring convenient darshan for pilgrims is the top most priority for the temple administration. “Over the instructions of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister  N Chandrababu Naidu we have introduced this time bound speedy darshan system on trial basis and are hopeful of positive results”, he added. Later, the EO joined other pilgrims in the new system to have the Lord’s darshan. 

While all the 2,500 tickets made available online had been sold, only 2173 pilgrims actually turned up for the darshan. Similarly, 699 pilgrims made their advance bookings through e-Darshan counters, where 2,500 tickets were made available, but only 609 of them made use of it.

Together, the Devasthanam sold 3,199 out of the 5,000 tickets available through both the modes, while only 2,782 pilgrims actually used the bookings in the 2 pm and 3 pm time slots made available on Wednesday.