TTD Plans to Sell Darshan Tickets for Dollars Soon

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 several pleas from various quarters. At present, the TTD is providing darshan of the Lord to an average 80,000 people per day.

On Thursday, 90,315 people had darshan and on Saturday by 6 pm, 64,727 people had darshan and in the remaining 7 hours  another 30,000 people 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 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.