It’s a dream come true for any couple to get their marriage conducted at Tirumala — the sacred abode of Lord Venkateswara.
The sentiment attached to the town spreads across the globe and can be understood by the fact that while about 5,000 marriages are being performed at the TTD’s Kalyana Vedika on an average every year, over 1,000 marriages are recorded at various cottages owned by the management.
This apart, over 500 to 700 marriages are registered at various private religious institutions annually. It is for this reason that the Government in 2011 had set-up a sub-registrar office exclusively for the registration of the marriages atop the hill temple.
But lack of proper publicity and the obscure location of the registration office have proved major hindrance in serving the purpose for which it had been set-up. Located at one of the TTD’s cottages in the little known SMC area, the sub-registrar office atop the temple town like any other government office functions from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm with a weekly holiday on Tuesday.
But lack of even minimum work to execute has nevertheless proved a dampener for the sub-registrar and a couple of his staff. While only 11 marriages were registered in 2011, the number rose to 822 in 2012 followed by 594 (2013) 618 (2014) and 869 during 2015.
When contacted, sub-registrar C. Venkata Subbaiah sounded optimistic that the work load would improve if the TTD’s decision to promote online registration of marriages was any indication. Further, the decision of the temple administration not to collect even a single-pie from the couples entering into a nuptial-knot at its Kalyana Vedika is sure to accelerate the registrations.
The TTD is already negotiating with the higher-ups of the department for setting-up of a counter at the sprawling premises of the Vedika. We have apprised them of the intricacies involved in working from a counter and have urged them to provide adequate working space for the purpose.
Registration of marriages involves verification of the antecedents of both the bride and the groom, corroboration of witnesses from both the sides and authentication of age certificates along with the wedding proof among other things.
To cope up with all the formalities and maintain relevant records and documents, we need an office atmosphere. We are ready to move into the new locale in the vicinity of the Vedika provided the TTD provides us with sufficient space as it will not only serve the interests of the temple administration but also is bound to prove more beneficial to the devotees, he said.
