OVER 1.9 LAKH PILGRIMS OFFER HAIRS TO LORD IN SIX DAYS- Dy EO KKC

Tirumala,22 September 2015: In a record by itself nearly1.87 lakh devotees tonsured their heads in form of redeeming their vows at Tirumala during the ongoing Brahmotsavam.

Disclosing the details at the Media Center Smt K. Baby Sarojini DyEO of Kalyana Katta said in all ten Kalyanakattas including one main and nine mini, 1600 barbers worked round the clock to serve the devotees during the last six days of Brahmotsavam. “Tonsuring is done totally free of cost and TTD has also made a provision for separate blades, dettol and sandal tablets for benefit of devotees and their safety from any infections. Earlier we used to charge Rs.10 in all mini Kalyanakattas, but now with the orders of our Executive Officer, Dr D Sambasiva Rao, tonsuring is made free of cost in all Kalyanakattas”, she observed.

She said out of nine mini KKs, four of them were kept open on 24×7 basis.” We also provide snacks and beverages to the devotees in Kalyana katta queues and perform gender wise tonsuring and also enabled special lines for aged and infants ‘ she said .

Smt.Sarojini said as part of age old tradition the ‘golden umbrellas ‘ will also be presented by the Kalyana Katta dharmakarta Sri Pantulugari Ramanathan to Lord Venkateswara tomorrow.The umbrellas will also be taken in procession along the Mada street and submitted to Lord Venkateswara at the Rathostavam venue .

The Kalyana Katta DyEO said, TTD has been making good revue from sale of the tonsured hair of the devotees through e-auctions.’We are earning yearly Rs.150 to Rs.200 crores through auctioning of hair which has great demand in international fashion markets in Europe and US’ she says.

ISSUED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TTDs, TIRUPATI