The sacred hill shrine of Tirumala has witnessed a historic surge in devotion and donations, setting an unprecedented record during its recent grand festival. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) announced that the temple's Hundi, or offering chest, collected a staggering ₹41.14 crore over a ten-day period. This remarkable collection was recorded during the Vaikunta Dwara Darshan event held from December 30 to January 8.
Unprecedented Devotee Turnout and Offerings
At a joint press conference, TTD officials revealed that the festival saw the highest footfall and donations since the traditional two-day Vaikunta Ekadasi was expanded into a ten-day celebration. TTD chairman BR Naidu shared that a record-breaking 7.8 lakh devotees passed through the sacred Vaikunta Dwaram this year. This marks the highest number of pilgrims since 2022, showcasing a massive revival in pilgrimage activity post-pandemic.
The scale of service and offerings matched the devotee enthusiasm. In a remarkable feat of logistics and devotion, the temple trust distributed free food to 33 lakh devotees over the festival days. Furthermore, the iconic Tirupati laddu, a sacred prasadam, saw massive demand with 44 lakh laddus sold to pilgrims seeking blessings.
Enhanced Management for a Smooth Pilgrimage
The successful and incident-free management of such a colossal crowd was a key highlight. Chairman Naidu publicly praised the district police and TTD's own vigilance wing for their seamless coordination. TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal added that the positive trend was not confined to the main temple. Other TTD-managed temples across India also experienced a significant jump in pilgrim visits.
The total footfall across all TTD temples surged from 7.5 lakh last year to 12.5 lakh this year, representing an impressive 50% increase. EO Singhal attributed this nationwide spike to improved arrangements and facilities for devotees.
Key to Success: Integrated Command and Control
Additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary provided insights into the operational excellence that made the record-breaking event possible. He emphasized the role of technology and planning, stating that integrated command control and superior crowd management systems were instrumental.
"We facilitated Darshan for more devotees than we actually planned. With the help of the integrated command control, better crowd management systems were enabled, which helped us ensure a hassle-free Darshan for a record number of 7.8 lakh devotees during the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshan," Venkaiah Chowdary asserted. This proactive approach allowed the administration to efficiently handle the unexpected but welcome surge in devotees, ensuring their spiritual journey was smooth and secure.
The press conference was also attended by Tirupati district collector Dr S Venkateshwar and SP L Subbarayudu, underscoring the collaborative effort between the temple administration and local authorities. The record-breaking festival sets a new benchmark for managing large-scale religious events in India, combining deep faith with modern management techniques to create a fulfilling experience for millions.
