TIRUPATI: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the affairs of the world-famous Tirumala Lord Venkateswara temple, has announced that it will distribute one lakh of the Srivari laddu prasadam during the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram temple on January 22.
The ceremony at Ayodhya, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and special invitees, marks the consecration of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama.
Addressing a media conference at Tirumala on Friday, A.V. Dharma Reddy, executive officer of TTD, said that as Lord Venkateswara and Lord Rama were both highly-revered incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The TTD had therefore decided to distribute one lakh 25-gram laddus as a goodwill gesture to the devotees and VVIPs at the Ayodhya event.
"The consecration ceremony is a historic moment for all followers of Sanatana Dharma. As TTD's primary objective is propagation of Hindu religion, culture and values, we are honoured to have the opportunity to participate in the Ram Janmabhoomi pooja," Reddy said.
Dharma Reddy said TTD had made extensive arrangements for the smooth conduct of the three-day Dharma Sadassu (dharmic conference) to be organised by its Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad wing at Asthana Mandapam in Tirumala from February 3 to 5.
Pontiffs and religious leaders from across India will be invited to attend the high-profile meeting to deliberate on matters related to protection and promotion of Sanatana Hindu dharma.
He said that the TTD was fully geared up to celebrate the annual Sri Goda Kalyanam festival on January 15 at the parade grounds in Tirupati.
The celestial wedding will be performed with grandeur as per Agama traditions. Other important festivals to be held at Tirumala temple this month include Srivari Paruveta Utsavam on January 16 on the auspicious Kanuma festival day and Ramakrishna Theertha Mukkoti on January 25.
Dharma Reddy also informed that the Tirumala temple received offerings worth Rs 116.73 crore in December 2022 from over 19 lakh devotees. A record 1.46 crore laddu prasadam and 40 lakh free meal servings were provided in December besides 6.87 lakh devotees getting their heads tonsured to fulfil religious vows. The EO urged devotees to mandatorily book their accommodation, seva and darshan tickets online through the website ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in.
