No more weekend break darshans on Tirumala

Tirupati, July 29: Giving priority to providing hasslefree darshan for common devotees, the Board of Trustees of the Tirumala Tirupati Devsthanams (TTD) on Tuesday decided to do away with VIP break darshans on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The board, which met on the Tirumala Hills, however, did not take any decision on the conduct of sevas in ekantam though the issue did come up for discussion.

Briefing mediapersons of the Board decisions, TTD Chairman Audikesavulu said sevas would continue as usual. The Board members had concurred on the need to cut the time for VIP darshans and provide more time to the common devotees. A suitable decision on arjita sevas and presence of the devotees at the various sevas will be taken after getting a clear picture on the issue, he said, adding that a decision will be taken only after studying the recommendations of former TTD executive officer PVRK Prasad. He clarified that protocol VIP darshans over the weekend will be at the sole descretion of the TTD Executive Officer. The Board also decided to conduct the next phase of Kalyanamastu on October 28 in Vrushabha Lagnam when Dhanishta Nakshtram is on the ascendant. Details regarding arrangements will be discussed later, the TTD Chairman said.

Audikesavulu also said that the Board had decided to extend the tenure of OSD (Temples) Dollar Seshadri by another two years. It also gave its nod to publish 172 krithis authored by Yogi Narayana, a bangle seller, which are famous as Sri Kaivarams. They will be published and distributed through the TTD’s Annamacharya Project.

The Board also agreed to let the traditional practice regarding Chief Priests continue, provided the case filed in the High Court by the family of one of the three hereditary chief priests is withdrawna.

–Agencies–