TIRUMALA: The hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara has been decked up as the nine-day Brahmotsavams are set to commence on Monday. Large-scale arrangements have been made to facilitate a hassle-free darshan of the presiding deity as well as the Vahana Sevas to the devotees.
Officials of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) said common devotees will be prioritised and that all the time slots have been allocated to them. While 25,000 to 30,000 tokens will be given manually at the Tirupati Srinivasam complex, Vishnu Nivasam complex, Govinda Raja Choultires and Divya Darshan (pedestrian devotees) tokens at Bhudevi Complex in Alipiri every day, another 45,000 devotees can enter directly from Queue Complexes without tokens or tickets. Authorities are expecting that around three lakh devotees might offer prayers at the temple on the day of Garuda Seva.
The commander-in-chief of Srivaru, Sri Vishvaksenulavaru, conducted a procession in the four Mada streets and supervised the arrangements ahead of the big event.Director General of Police (DGP) K V Rajendranath Reddy also inspected the shrine on Saturday and Sunday. He will stay in Tirumala till Tuesday in view of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to the temple on Monday. Jagan will offer sacred silk robes to the presiding deity on the first day of the celestial fete.
Meanwhile, as a prelude to the annual event, Ankurarpanam was held on Sunday evening. Later, special pujas were performed to Mother Earth in the Yagasala of the temple and new grains were sowed. The ceremony of sowing seeds, known as Beejavapanam, is an essential part of Ankurarpanam.TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, executive officer AV Dharma Reddy, and others participated in the ritual.
Officials gear up for fete
Stating that a total of 3,900 police personnel have been deployed for security and vigilance, the DGP said additional 1,000 officers will reach Tirumala on September 21 and 22 for bandobust during Garuda Seva. Additionally, the TTD has deployed 800 employees in Tirupati for 10 days. Staff has also been deputed at the Vaikuntam Queue Complex and inside the temple. A total of 1,900 personnel of the security and vigilance wing of the Temple Trust have been deployed at Tirumala.
TTD ready to feed 2 lakh devotees per day
Additional cooks have been allocated in the Potu (Temple Kitchen) for preparation of Anna Prasadam. “We are ready to feed two lakh devotees per day with the help of 400 additional workers, including cleaning staff, said chief catering officer Sasthri.The temple authorities have also decided to make available an additional buffer stock of six lakh laddus per day from Sunday itself. Besides the laddus that will be sold, 50,000 small laddus, each weighing 50 grams, will be made for distribution inside the temple.
The health department has hired 3,000 more workers exclusively for the Brahmotsavams for the upkeep of sanitation. At least six to ten toilets - both permanent and mobile - have been arranged in the Four mada streets. Seven clinics, which will operate 24x7, with 40 doctors and 60 paramedics have been established.
Additional cooks have been allocated in the Potu (Temple Kitchen) for preparation of Anna Prasadam. “We are ready to feed two lakh devotees per day with the help of 400 additional workers, including cleaning staff, said chief catering officer Sasthri.
The temple authorities have also decided to make available an additional buffer stock of six lakh laddus per day from Sunday itself. Besides the laddus that will be sold, 50,000 small laddus, each weighing 50 grams, will be made for distribution to devotees inside the temple. The health department has hired 3,000 more workers exclusively for the Brahmotsavams for the upkeep of sanitation. At least six to ten toilets - both permanent and mobile - have been arranged in the Four mada streets.Seven clinics, which will operate 24x7, with 40 doctors and 60 paramedics have been established.
CM to offer silk robes
DGP KV Rajendranath Reddy inspected the shrine in view of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to the temple on Monday. Jagan will offer the sacred silk robes to the presiding deity on the first day of the fete