The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ to open on Dec. 20

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Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ to open on Dec. 20

Staff Reporter

The door will be thrown open to ordinary devotees at 3.00 a.m. on Ekadasi day

TIRUMALA: The doors of the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara will be thrown open for the ordinary devotees on December 20 on the eve of the auspicious ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ day for the darshan of the Lord.

Talking to media persons the Tirumala-based TTD’s joint executive officer, G. Balaramaiah said that the sacred ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ (which is opened to the public only once in a year on Ekadasi festival day) will be opened in the wee hours of Thursday, as early as 3.00 a.m. soon after the completion of the temple rituals.

He also categorically made it clear that the visiting devotees need not get panic as the ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ encircling the innermost sanctum sanctorum also will be kept open till the midnight of Friday (Vaikunta Dwadasi) for the benefit of the devotees.

In reply to a question Balaramaiah said that the temple management was stubborn on its stand not to entertain any VIP recommendation letters on both the Ekadasi and Dwadasi days.

However the VIPs who fall under the protocol categories like the Chief Justice, other judges, Union Ministers, State Ministers, MPs and MLAs will be given priority in the darshan.

But at the same time only five protocol darshan passes will be issued to each of them.

He also maintained that the ordinary pilgrim shall always remain the top priority of the management.

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