Vaikuntha Dwaram to Open for Devotees at Tirumala on Vaikuntha Ekadashi

DECCAN FREEDOM NEWS

Tirumala, January 7

The Vaikuntha Dwaram at the Tirumala Srivari Temple will be opened for devotees on Vaikuntha Ekadashi, January 10, from the early hours of the morning. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has made elaborate arrangements to allow devotees to have darshan of Lord Venkateswara through the Vaikuntha Dwaram for a span of ten days, from January 10 to January 19.

TTD EO J. Syamala Rao addressed the media and highlighted the schedule for Vaikuntha Ekadashi. On January 10, protocol darshan will begin at 4:30 AM, followed by Sarva Darshan for devotees from 8:00 AM. Between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, devotees can witness the Swarna Ratham procession of Lord Malayappa Swamy accompanied by Sridevi and Bhudevi. Later, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, darshan will be available at the Vahana Mandapam. On January 11, the traditional Chakrasnanam will be performed in the Swami Pushkarini.

TTD has issued 1.2 lakh tickets for Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Dwadashi, and Trayodashi. Additional EO C.H. Venkataiah Chowdary urged devotees to strictly follow the allotted time slots for darshan to avoid overcrowding. Tokens for darshan are being issued at 94 counters in Tirupati and Tirumala. He also reiterated that darshan will be allowed only for those with valid tokens or tickets, with all recommendation letters and special darshans suspended during this period.

To manage the large influx of devotees, extensive parking arrangements have been made, and entry and parking details are being included on tickets for convenience. Around 4.32 lakh SSD tokens are being issued for the ten-day period. Tirupati District SP Subbarayudu stated that 3,000 police personnel and 1,500 vigilance staff have been deployed to ensure smooth crowd management and security. Special focus is being given to maintaining a seamless queue system and providing ample parking facilities for vehicles.

The temple town is being adorned with beautiful floral decorations and enhanced lighting to welcome the devotees. The TTD also announced its participation in the Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26, where a model temple will be set up to showcase the Tirumala traditions. TTD will also perform four Kalyanotsavams during the Kumbh Mela, allowing devotees in North India to witness the divine rituals of Lord Venkateswara.

Devotees are requested to cooperate with TTD’s arrangements, report at the specified times, and follow guidelines to ensure a hassle-free and spiritually fulfilling darshan.