TTD Gears Up For 20% More Pilgrims During Navaratri Brahmotsavams
TTD is preparing for about 20% more pilgrims during Navaratri Brahmotsavams, with additional arrangements for darshan, food, transport and security.
With the Navaratri Brahmotsavams falling during a holiday period, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is preparing for about 20 per cent more pilgrims than attended the recent Salakatla Brahmotsavams and is making additional arrangements for darshan, Annaprasadam, transport and logistics.
TTD additional executive officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary said the arrangements were being planned based on the experience of the Salakatla Brahmotsavams, which concluded recently. He reviewed the arrangements for the Navaratri Brahmotsavams with senior officials in Tirumala on Monday.
He said the two Brahmotsavams were being held within a gap of only 17 days this year due to the occurrence of Adhika Masam. Based on the feedback and checklists from the Salakatla Brahmotsavams, the TTD was taking corrective measures wherever shortcomings were noticed. “Feedback showed 95 per cent to 98 per cent satisfaction among devotees with Annaprasadam, electrical decorations, flower decorations and several other services,” Chowdary said.
He said the TTD would continue to give priority to ordinary devotees during the Navaratri Brahmotsavams. During the nine-day Salakatla Brahmotsavams, an average of about 73,000 devotees had darshan of the presiding deity every day. The waiting time was generally kept between five and eight hours and did not exceed 10 hours, he noted.
The TTD would regulate VIP and privilege darshan, along with facilities for senior citizens, children, SRIVANI and special-entry devotees, depending on the crowd situation. Some darshan categories could be reduced or cancelled when necessary to bring down the waiting time for Sarva Darshan devotees, he said.
The Additional EO said security arrangements would be reviewed with the district police. The TTD would also make contingency arrangements for rainfall in October and coordinate with the district administration to avail NDRF services wherever required. TTD JEO Prabhala Gopinath, CVSO K.V. Murali Krishna and other officials were present.
