Vaikuntha Dwara Darsanams: No Offline Tickets For Non-Locals

Following the TTD's decision to issue offline tickets to devotees for the Vaikuntha Dwara darsanams in Tirupati for ten days from December 25, instead of the usual two, Additional EO A V Dharma Reddy today clarified that non-local devotees could not avail themselves of the service.

Talking about the offline ticketing service started for the locals, the EO said, "The TTD will release one lakh tickets for the 10 days of the darsanams for the benefit of locals devotees at five earmarked centres in Tirupati on December 24. Due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation, this year we have decided to issue offline tickets only to the locals."

The EO, along with local MLA and TTD board special invitee B Karunakar Reddy, and Tirupati (Urban) SP Ramesh Reddy, inspected the ticket issuing centres in the temple city.

He then explained that due to the ongoing pandemic, the number of devotees who would be allowed to visit the the passage of the inner-most sanctum sanctorum of the Lord Venkateswara temple would be far lower this year.

"As against the usual one lakh devotees who are allowed to do the Vaikuntha Dwara darsanams every year, this year we will be allowing entry for only 35,000 devotees owing to the health risks posed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. To ensure that this can be implemented, we appeal to the non-local devotees not to try and procure offline tickets as this may lead to large public gatherings and queues. Apart from violating Covid-19 regulations, the crowds might even affect the law and order situation of the city negatively. However, so that the non-local devotees can attend the darsanams, we have already released 20,000 SRIVANI tickets online for the same," he added.

Tirupati Urban SP also voiced his agreement with the EO's decision. He then assured the people that elaborate policing arrangements would be made at the five ticket counters, and asked them to carry their Aadhaar cards as these would need to be produced at the ticket counters as proof of residence.