TIRUMALA:The state government is contemplating to introduce sale of darshan tickets of Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala to foreigners and NRIs in US dollars, Euros, Singapore dollars and Malaysia Ringgit. The move follows after several pleas from various quarters.
At present, the TTD is providing darshan to an average 80,000 people per day.
On Thursday, it rose to 90,315 and by by 6 pm on Saturday, 64,727 people had darshan and in the remaining seven hours another 30,000 are expected to visit the temple.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu hinted at the proposal of issuing darshan tickets on payment in foreign currency, sources said. Institutions like TTD have to come forward to help the state improve financially, he reportedly said.
“First the government and the TTD will fix the rate in US and Singapore dollars and later in Ringgit and Euro. Along with darshan, prasadam and small booklets, a pocket portrait of the Lord Venkateswara might be given to the devotees who buy darshan tickets in foreign currency, said sources.
The TTD is also contemplating to send them in for darshan in an exclusive slot, it is learnt.
As summer vacation is ending, Tirumala witnessed heavy surge of pilgrims on Saturday. Over 2,500 Srivari Seva volunteers have been deployed at darshan points, queue lines, Annaprasadam building etc.
Tirumala JEO KS Sreenivasa Raju inspected the queue lines, laddu counters and four mada streets. He instructed the officials to ensure supply of adequate food, buttermilk and water to the pilgrim.
The Annaprasadam wing offered food to pilgrims in queue lines and on trekking routes utilising the services of Srivari Sevakulu.