Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati   

Post-Brahmotsavam, TTD upbeat

Staff Reporter

ON A HIGH: TTD Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy and Executive Officer A.P.V.N. Sarma addressing a press conference in Tirupati on Thursday.

TIRUPATI: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management appears upbeat over the record of sorts created during the recently-concluded annual Brahmotsavam at the Venkateswara temple.

Be it the number of pilgrims who had got their head tonsured or the hundi collection, this year's figures are much higher than those pertaining to the previous year.

While the number of pilgrims who had darshan last year was 4.46 lakhs, it is amazing that an additional one lakh members had a holy glimpse of the Lord during these nine days, whose number is officially put at 5,69,702.

At the customary post-Brahmotsavam media conference held on Thursday, TTD Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy and Executive Officer A.P.V.N. Sarma explained that the TTD had extended various free services like meals, milk, tiffin, etc., to the pilgrims waiting in the queue complex and medical services to the needy.

In all, 10.15 lakh devotees had free meals at the 'Annadanam' complex against 5.50 lakhs while 26,960 litres of milk was served to devotees against a mere 9,920 litres (1.23 lakh cups) last year.

Under `Sri Vari Seva', a scheme where devotees can enrol themselves as volunteers to serve fellow devotees in and around the temple, 1400 persons joined everyday during the nine-day fete against 1,365 last year.

The TTD management sold spiritual literature in the form of books, magazines, audio/video cassettes and compact discs worth Rs.4.35 lakhs against last year's Rs.2.10 lakhs.

Some 5.3 lakh devotees were given free `laddus' in the temple against 3.42 lakhs last year.

`No differences'

Reacting to the media reports that there were differences between himself and the Executive Officer, Mr. Reddy strongly denied them as 'baseless'. "We have good working relations", he maintained.

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