The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the governing body of the revered Tirumala temple, is facing significant criticism for its handling of pilgrim darshan during the crucial initial days of the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. The decision to rely solely on an online ticketing system resulted in a surprisingly low number of common devotees gaining entry, sparking outrage from political leaders and devotees alike.
Online-Only System Leads to Drastic Drop in Pilgrim Numbers
The controversy centers around the management of the Vaikunta Dwara darshan, a special entrance opened during the auspicious Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. For the first three days of the 10-day festival, TTD allocated the entire quota of darshan tickets exclusively through its online e-dip mode. This move, intended to streamline the process, spectacularly backfired.
The pilgrim footfall data reveals a stark picture. On the first day of Vaikunta Ekadasi, December 30, only 67,053 devotees managed to have darshan. The numbers remained low on the subsequent days, with 70,256 pilgrims on December 31 and 65,225 on January 1. These figures were deemed far below expectations for such a major festival.
Offline Shift Brings Relief, But Criticism Mounts
Recognizing the failure, the TTD administration decided to shift to an offline mode for darshan from the fourth day, January 2. The result was immediate and telling. On that single day, 83,032 devotees were able to offer their prayers at the hill shrine, a number significantly higher than any of the first three online-only days.
This sharp contrast has fueled criticism from various quarters, including from within the ruling dispensation. Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board chairman and TDP leader Neelayapalem Vijay Kumar questioned the TTD's decision to restrict pilgrims when Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has consistently emphasized prioritizing common devotees on auspicious occasions. He urged the TTD to adopt measures that augment pilgrim footfall, temple revenue, and Hundi collections, not cause them to decline.
Political Leaders Demand Accountability
The criticism was bipartisan. Former temple board chairman and YSRCP leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy launched a more direct attack. He accused the TTD administration of creating a "fear psychosis" among devotees with its restrictive online system. Reddy demanded that the state government pull up the TTD officials and conduct a thorough introspection into the reasons behind the below-average pilgrim turnout during the festival's initial phase.
The episode has highlighted the challenges in balancing technological adoption with the needs of millions of devotees, many of whom may not be digitally savvy. It has sparked a crucial debate on ensuring that modernization efforts at India's richest temple trust do not end up alienating the very devotees it seeks to serve.
