(Our Special Correspondent)
Tirumala: Following the fresh guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry in the wake of a surge of Covid cases elsewhere in the world, the TTD on Tuesday decided to impose the mask mandatory for all visiting devotees to the temple. That too, when Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan begins on January 2 with thousands of devotees set to come for darshan. The TTD has made ‘masks’ compulsory during the ten-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshan starting from January 2-11. This practice has been in vogue for the past three years, said TTD Trust Board Chairman Sri YV Subba Reddy. Speaking to media persons along with TTD EO(FAC) Sri Anil Kumar Singhal and other top brass officials from TTD and district administration, the Chairman said, “Given the recent guidelines by Central and State Governments, we appeal the devotees who are coming to Tirumala for Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan to wear Masks which is mandatory. We make other arrangements like frequently sanitizing crowded places etc. as a part of the Health Safety and Security of visiting pilgrims. TTD has planned to issue a total 45,000 Slotted Sarva Darshan tickets per day from January 2 to 11. The issuance of free SSD tokens will commence by 2 pm of January 1 at Nine centers consisting of 92 counters in Tirupati viz. Bhudevi Complex, Indira Maidan, Ramachandra Pushkarini, Jeevakona ZP high school, Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam, Ramanaidu Municipal High School, Seshadrinagar ZP High School in Bairagipettada and Govindarajaswami choultries 2 and 3.
While four counters are earmarked in Tirumala at Koustubham Rest House exclusively for Tirumala locals. All arrangements of food, water, and beverages have been arranged at these counters and mobile toilets have also been erected. To facilitate the devotees coming from various neighboring states to know about the counters, QR code facility boards have also been displayed at all these counters and also at Cherlopalle, Pudi road, and Navajeevan Hospital areas.
The devotees with SSD tokens shall have to report at Sri Krishna Teja Rest House in Tirumala on their specified date and time only, to avoid long waiting hours for darshan, the Chairman said.
SRI VANI Trust tickets will not be issued offline. “As we have already released 2000 tickets of SRIVANI online for each day from January 2 to 11, no tickets will be issued in offline”, he reiterated. “Similarly we have also issued 2.05lakh SED(Rs.300) tickets from January 1 to 11 online”, he maintained.
Given New Year’s Day on January 1, Vaikunta Ekadasi on January 2, and Vaikunta Dwadasi on January 3, all bookings in accommodation from December 29 to January 3 stand canceled. Even the VIPs will also be allotted only two rooms as there is limited accommodation in Tirumala. Because of common devotees, no VIP referral letters for darshan on January 2 and 3 will be accepted and are requested to cooperate with the management”, he added.
On Vaikunta Ekadasi and Dwadasi, the darshan for common pilgrims commences by 6 am and will continue till 11 pm. On Vaikunta Ekadasi day Swarna Ratham procession takes place between 9 am and 11 am. While on Vaikunta Dwadasi day, Chakra Snanam will be observed between 4.30 am and 5.30 am.
Other arrangements: Among other arrangements, we are keeping ready a buffer stock of 3.50 lakh laddus for devotees, deployed 400 sanitary workers, additional barbers in Kalyanakatta, vigilance sleuths, and police to safeguard the devotees. The Annaprasadam will be served from 6 am till midnight. Both the Ghat roads remain open 24X7 for the convenience of the pilgrims. Three additional dispensaries and one mobile dispensary will be set up for the occasion. A parking facility in Tirumala has been created for 8000 vehicles. Wide publicity is being given via all media platforms for the sake of devotees present across the country. About 3500 Srivari Sevakulu are being invited to serve the devotees at various places. Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stotra Akhanda Parayanam will be performed on the day of Vaikuntha Ekadasi on January 2 at Nada Neerajanam. Appeal to Govinda Mala Devotees: The Chairman appealed to the Govindamala devotees to come to Tirumala for Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan only with tokens to avoid any inconvenience. Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan to devotees of backward areas; Every day one thousand devotees from backward areas across the State, will be provided Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan during these ten days.
