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Bengaluru: Special darshan at Tirupati for seniors, physically challenged

Senior citizens and differently abled people can now have the darshan without having to wait in long queues and going through the jostling.

Bengaluru: There is good news for senior citizens and differently abled people who visit Tirumala for darshan of the Lord Venkateshwara. They can now have the darshan without having to wait in long queues and going through the jostling.

They can just get in and have the darshan. They have to report two hours before the darshan time, with age proof ID cards and relevant medical certificates. There are two time slots fixed - one at 10 am and another at 3 pm.

Devotees who are 65 years old and above have to just produce age proof with photo IDs. They have to report at S1 counter under the bridge crossing the road from Gallery to temple right side wall.

They don't have to climb any steps. The TTD administration has made seating arrangements too for them. When senior citizens are seated, they are served hot sambar rice, curd rice and hot milk free of cost.

Senior citizens and the differently-abled will also be given two laddus for just Rs 20. If they need more laddus, they have to pay Rs 25 per laddu. From the car parking area at the exit gate of the temple, electric buggies will be available to drop them at the counter of entry and back.

At the time of the darshan for these groups, all other queues are stopped, and darshan for only senior citizens and the differently-abled is allowed to ensure that there is no crowd pressure. The entire darshan will take just 30 minutes. Devotees who avail of the darshan under the scheme cannot avail of it for another 90 days.

A TTD official told Deccan Chronicle, "These arrangements have been made to ease darshan for senior citizens. We want to help senior citizens do their darshan without a hassle and also in peace as there will not be any pressure on them like it is during normal darshan."

Ms Kaveriamma at the TTD's information centre said that she would try the senior citizen darshan. "I will surely try it. I visit Tirupati devasthanam every year and it would be better if I could get a glimpse of the Lord without have to go through the push and the jostle."

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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