TTD gears up to host over 7 lakh devotees during Vaikunta Ekadasi festival

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the Vaikunta Dwara Darshan for more than 7 lakh devotees during the auspicious Vaikunta Ekadasi festivities, its Executive Officer J. Syamala Rao said on Tuesday.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the Vaikunta Dwara Darshan for more than 7 lakh devotees during the auspicious Vaikunta Ekadasi festivities, its Executive Officer J. Syamala Rao said on Tuesday.

Addressing the media, Mr. Rao said that the Vaikunta Dwaram, the innermost passage encircling the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Venkateswara temple, will be opened on January 10, the Vaikunta Ekadasi day, and remain accessible for the devotees for ten days.

The darshan schedule begins with VIPs being allowed entry from 4:30 a.m., while the common devotees at 8:30 a.m.

Key events during the festival include the Golden Chariot procession on Vaikunta Ekadasi day and the Chakrasnanam on the Dwadasi day. Only devotees with valid darshan tickets will be allowed entry for darshan.

To manage the large influx of pilgrims, the TTD has released 1.4 lakh Special Entry Darshan (SED) tickets, priced at ₹300 each, and 19,500 SriVani darshan tickets online for the 10-day period.

For common devotees, Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD) tokens for January 10 to 12 will be issued offline at 90 counters in Tirupati, while tokens for subsequent days will be distributed on a daily basis.

Accommodation will be provided to pilgrims on a first-come, first-served basis and the Nitya Annadanam complex will operate for extended hours from 6 a.m. to midnight.