TIRUPATI: The work on the stairway to the ancient Vakula Matha temple on Peruru Banda hillock is at a brisk pace, but still it has a long way to go.
A pontiff from Kakinada, who recently started an agitation, had succeeded in proving that this small temple dedicated to Goddess Vakula Devi, Mother of Lord Venkateswara, was part of the main Tirumala temple once.
Interestingly, though the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) took up the staircase work on Peruru Banda hillock as part of renovation of Vakula Matha temple way back in 2011, but still the work has not been completed. During the time, three Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Executive Officers changed. The formation of a staircase to the ancient temple on the hillock commenced recently.
The TTD sanctioned Rs 66 lakh for the granite stairway from down to the hillock to the top. The formation of granite steps is a time consuming process. “After completion of the existing granite, the work may slow down, said workers working at Peruru Banda. “Because of the stone work, there is no time duration for the completion of the stairway to the ancient temple,” the workers said.
It needs to build a 500 to 600 metre long stairway to reach the temple situated at a height of 150 to 200 metres on the hillock. For several decades, quarrying at Peruru Banda which is a hillock spread over 1 km with quality granite, went unabated.
Following concerns expressed by local people, steps were taken to curb illegal quarrying. But by that time, about 70 per cent of the hillock had vanished. The remaining 30 per cent hillock now stands as a witness to the ‘illegal quarrying’which flourished once. The TTD is committed to renovating the ancient temple to make it a major pilgrim destination in Chittoor district.
Srinivasa Kalyanam in TN on July 14
Tirupati : Srinivasa Kalyanam will be celebrated at Rasipuram of Namakkal district in Tamil Nadu on July 14. The divine wedding will be performed at Sri Vidya Mandir School on Saturday evening between 6 and 8 pm. TTD Kalyanotsavam Project Special Officer Prabhakar Rao is overseeing the arrangements for the smooth conduct of the celestial event.
Kapileswara temple festival from July 24
Tirupati: The annual three-day Pavithrotsavam of Sri Kapileswara Swamy temple will be celebrated in Tirupati from July 24 to 26. During the auspicious Ashada month, the festival is held at the famous temple of Lord Shiva as per the tenets of Saivagama. Interested Grihastas can take part in the fete on purchase of `500 ticket. Two persons will be allowed on each ticket. Tirupati Joint Executive Officer Pola Bhaskar released posters of Pavithrotsavam here on Wednesday. Temple Deputy EO Subrahmanyam, Superintendent Rajkumar and others were present.