TTD Yields To People, Tirumala Temple Likely To Be Open To Devotees 

Tirumala: Recently the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) board had met and made a controversial announcement that the Lord Venkateshwara temple in Tirumala would be closed for nine days from August 9 to 17 and devotees will not be able to have a darshan of the Lord. The closure of temple for devotees was to conduct the Mahasamprokshana, which is held once in 12 years. This decision of TTD came in for widespread criticism.

With media also stepping up criticism of the TTD decision, with repeated exposure by the Sakshi group, the government had to climb down on its call for closure of the temple. The TDP government seems to have instructed the Executive Officer to facilitate darshan during the nine days. Closure of the temple to the devotees was taken to facilitate the Mahasamprokshana, but with devotees, religious leaders and media slamming the move, especially after the controversies surrounding TTD, the Board had to rethink its decision.

The AP CM instructed the TTD officials to follow the system adopted by the temple on earlier occasions of performing Mahasamprokshana. Without disturbing the pooja of the Lord, people should be allowed to have darshan as well, he said.

Reacting to the instructions of AP CM, TTD EO Anil Kumar Singhal held a press conference here today and said that they would hold the board meeting on July 24 and take an appropriate decision on allowing darshan during Mahasamprokshana. He said within this week, the TTD would collect the opinion of devotees. They were contemplating on giving permission for darshan two times a day for three to four hours. Based on the time available and rush of the devotees, a decision would be taken, he added.

Also Read: Sakshi Impact: Chandrababu Directs TTD Not To Play With Devotees’ Sentiments