The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Pilgrim influx at an all-time high

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Monday, Mar 24, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Pilgrim influx at an all-time high

Special Correspondent

Four days of holidays results in a surge of at Tirumala

TIRUPATI: Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, remained pilgrim-choked for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday with the bunching of government holidays for four days touching off in its wake a surge of pilgrims into the hill temple from all over the country.

The end of the Intermediate examinations and the government offices and educational institutions closing down in a row for four days - for Milad un Nabi, Good Friday, Holi and Sunday- the influx of pilgrims into the hill temple touched the all-time high and threw out of gear all the parameters meant to provide at least basic amenities to the pilgrims.

With there being no match between the magnitude of the crowd and the rooms available at Tirumala and Tirupati, barring a fraction of the visiting pilgrims rest of them had to fend for themselves for a shelter by huddling themselves either in the open or on the corridors of the bus stations, choultries, amenities complexes and so on.

Queue lines

The Vaikuntam queue complex burst at its seams and the queue line spilled out for nearly a furlong outside the complex with pilgrims, including the aged and the infirm with their baggage and children, waiting rather endlessly for hours together for their chance to get a glimpse of the deity.

No VIP tickets

The TTD on its part cancelled the VIP and cellar entry tickets and sought to provide maximum time for dharma darshan. To cope with the huge rush, the temple authorities clamped ‘Maha Laghu’ and turned away pilgrims from the ‘Dwarapalakas’.

Though pilgrims were highly disappointed over this, the TTD authorities had no other option but to resort to it given the size of the surge.

Long winding queue lines were seen in front of the reception offices, kalyanakatta (tonsuring centres), laddu counters and the Nithya Annadanam canteen with pilgrims milling around for their turn.

Limited tokens

Pilgrims were also unhappy over the TTD reportedly issue of limited number of Rs.50 Sudarshan tokens and the ‘free darshan’ Sudarshan token without making any corresponding increase in their numbers to meet the demand from the unprecedented crowd.

Extra buses

Bus stations and the railway station were seen brimming to their capacities while the private taxis and jeeps enjoyed a field day ferrying the stranded pilgrims up and down the hills. APSRTC also chipped in with increased operations to meet the holiday rush.

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