TTD to provide 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshan

Ending weeks of speculation, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Tuesday announced that the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan of Lord Venkateswara will be held for 10 days from December 30.

Briefing the media after a marathon meeting of the Board of Trustees, TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu said that any move to reduce the darshan period would hurt the religious sentiments of devotees and deprive lakhs of them of the opportunity to have the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan. Over 7.5 lakh devotees availed themselves of the facility during the previous Vaikuntha Ekadasi.

The announcement assumes significance amid reports that the TTD was considering curtailing the event to just two days in the wake of the stampede-like incident during the last Vaikuntha Ekadasi in January, which claimed six lives and left over 40 devotees injured.

YSRCP leader and former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy had on Monday strongly criticised the proposed move to shorten the darshan period, stating that the 10-day format had been approved during his party’s rule after consultations with over 28 Peetadhipatis who gave their consent.

TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal informed that a special committee would be constituted to finalise the modalities for ticket distribution—whether through online mode or counters in Tirupati. The committee will submit its recommendations within two weeks. Other key resolutions included approving the construction of a Lord Venkateswara temple in Chennai at a cost of ₹14 crore, to be funded through donations, and sanctioning Brahmotsavam bahumanams to employees. The Board also cleared several pilgrim-centric development works at Kanipakam, Ontimitta, Kadapa and Karimnagar temples, besides recommending an Anti-Corruption Bureau inquiry into alleged irregularities in the procurement of Melchat Vastrams.