The ever-busy Tirumala temple of Lord Sri Venkateshwara Swamy on Sunday thronged by newly-weds. As Sunday being a very auspicious day, some 500 marriages were performed on the holy pilgrim town this morning.
The couples to be wedded and their relatives were subjected to hardships for want of space in the local Purohit sangham where collective marriages are performed. Taking undue advantage of huge rush for marriages, the contractors fleeced the couples, who chose to get married in the local religious Maths.
Curiously, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam authorities allotted a three-acre (14,520 yards) place to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha’s principal secretary Ramamohana Rao for performing his daughter’s marriage. Besides, the TTD authorities also allotted 300 rooms to Tamil Nadu official in advance. The remaining cottages were being allotted to those having recommendation letters from VVIPs and Pairokars (middlemen). As a result, the ordinary pilgrims, who came to Tirumala for Lord’s darshan had to spend their time on the roads. (NSS)
