NEW GUIDELINES FOR Rs.300 WILL BE FORMULATED IN A MONTH-TTD EO

Tirumala, 1 August 2014: The TTD Executive Officer Sri MG Gopal on Friday advocated that TTD is contemplating to bring some changes in Rs.300 Special Entry Darshan system and the new guidelines will be formulated in a month’s time.

Answering the queries of pilgrim callers Sri Sekhar from Chennai and Sri Trinath Rao from Vizianagaram during the monthly “Dial Your EO” programme in Annamaiah Bhavan at Tirumala, the EO said TTD is planning to reduce the waiting time of the pilgrims and thinking various alternate avenues for providing hassle free and speedy darshan. “The changes brought inside the temple with three-stepped darshan has proved to be a success. Now we are finding ways and means to introduce time slots to Rs.300 darshan and reducing the waiting time of the pilgrims. The EO also said, that this new darshan system will come into force within this month only.

Reacting to a pilgrim caller Sri Subba Rao of Yanam, who asked the EO to set up separate hundial for ghee donation, the EO said, it is not possible but the donations can be made to Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshana Trust in Tirupati.

Answering another caller, Sri Raja from Mumbai who complained EO that certain programmes in SVBC are being telecasted with Tamil background commentary instead of Telugu, for which the EO replied that certain pasurams penned by Alwars (Tamil Saint Poets) will necessarily be delivered with Tamil background commentary only.

Replying the caller Sri Vijaykumar from Anakapalle, who sought the EO to allow the couple to take part in Suprabhatam, the EO said the procedure is already under implementation.

Earlier the EO briefed about the various developmental activities under taken by TTD and some important religious events to take place in the month of August.

The EO said, TTD has successfully conducted the week long “Sri Venkateswara Vaibhavotsavams” in the city of Vizag from July 23-29 in a big way which was attended by lakhs of local devotees.

He also said, TTD has taken a decision to cancel VIP recommendation letters on August 8,9 and 10 and on August 15,16 and 17 owing to festival holidays.

Later the EO enlisted the religious events in the month of August including Shravana Pournami Managudi across 52000 temples in the states of AP and Telengana, Gokulastami at Tirupati Goshala and Utlotsavam in Tirumala on August 18 and 19 respectively.

The EO also elaborated on the venues of Srinivasa Kalyanams in the month of August including Selem (Surmangalam) in Tamilnadu on August 2, West Godavari(KP Palem) on August 7, in Kurnool on August 9, in Kakinada on August 16, Karnataka on August 23 (Koppal) and in Prakasam (Tripurantakam) on August 30.

ISSUED BY TTDs PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TIRUPATI