Andhra Pradesh: TTD cancels darshan at Tirumala for this

Tirupati, July 15: To evade difficulty to pilgrims, the TTD Board has fixed to cancel the Lord's darshanam from August 11-16 in view of the 'Astabandhana Balalaya Mahasamprokshanam', a unique religious festival, stated board chairman Putta Sudhakar Yadav.

Instructing the media persons here on Saturday after an emergency board meeting, Mr Yadav said,

"This rare religious fest takes place once in 12 years in the Tirumala temple. It begins with Ankurarpanam on August 11 and concludes on August 16. As importance will be given for Vedic rituals, the time for darshanam for pilgrims will be very least possible."

The TTD will not provide any annaprasadams during Mahasamprokshanam. He said that according to previous data, 5.5 lakh pilgrims visit the hill temple in the 2nd week of August. "Keeping this in view, we have decided to distribute with darshanam to avoid grief to devotees," Mr Yadav said.

He explained: "Pilgrims will not be allowed to enter the Vaikuntham queue complex for darshanam after 6 pm on August 9. Darshanam will re-open only after 6 am from August 17." He requested pilgrims to plan their travel accordingly.

Earlier, the TTD announced that both the ghat roads and the footpath routes would be closed, which confirms that there will be no entry for devotees. Later, the TTD stepped back and said that the devotees would not be allowed in the alcove for darshan from 6 pm of August 9 to 6 am on August 17.

The Rayalaseema Porata Samithi released a press statement saying that the decision was creating doubts.

"Somehow it is suspected. We wonder why the devotees are not allowed to Tirumala at least. Are there any valuable things that the Board wants to shift out of the temple," said convener P. Naveen Kumar Reddy.