I have gone to Tirupati Temple barefoot: Esha Deol

By News Network Tue, March, 24 2015

Religion plays an important role especially in India. Indians are generally sensitive about religious matters and that is an area where they usually don’t tolerate any offence.

Pilgrimage is another part of religious festivities where people from different parts of India and even abroad travel long distances to visit places of worship. Ajmer Dargah, Velankanni Church, Golden Temple and numerous temples are part of these kinds of pilgrimages. Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh is one such temple thronged by lakhs and crores of devotees to visit the gods and seek blessings.

Esha Deol who was present at the trailer launch of an upcoming film Barefoot to Goa was naturally asked about if she has travelled to a place barefoot. She said, ‘I have gone to Tirupati Temple barefoot for a religious visit.’

Being a South Indian, she naturally chose to visit a temple down South rather than the pilgrimages in North India in Benaras or Kashi Temple. Her skills as a Kathak and Bharatnatyam dancer have also some connection to religious beliefs as some of the steps in these dances have relation to the moves the various Gods performed.

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Women Barbers at Tirumala this Summer

23rd March 2015 

Women barbers shave the heads of pilgrims at Srivari Kalayanakatta at Tirumala | Express Photo 

Anticipating heavy pilgrim rush during the summer vacation which starts from the first week of April, the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams (TTD) has decided to utilise the services of Women Srivari Kalayanakatta sevakulu in Tirumala.

The move is aimed at reducing the waiting hours and inconvenience especially to women pilgrims and children in tonsuring areas. 

The TTD has taken initiative to invite women kalyanakatta sevakulu who have already registered as Srivari Sevakulu in Tirumala. An SMS has also been forwarded to first 100 women kalyanakatta sevakulu (who have furnished all details as per norms of TTD) to report at the main Kalyanakatta in Tirumala on Monday by 10 am where a talent test will be carried out by the Kalayanakatta supervisors. Their services will be utilised in a phased manner from April onwards.

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Fervour marks Ugadi at Tirumala

TIRUMALA, March 22, 2015

Fervour marked ‘Ugadi’ celebrations at the famous hill temple of Lord Venkateswara on Saturday.

In connection with ‘Manmadha Nama Ugadi’, the Telugu New Year, ‘Asthanam’ was conducted at Bangaru Vakili inside the sanctum sanctorum. This was followed by the auspcious ‘Panchanga Sravanam’ to deities mounted atop the golden Sarva Bhoopala Vahanam between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Earlier, special rituals like Visesha Padi Pradakshina and procession of ‘Nutana Vastrams’ were held at Vimana Prakaram encircling the sanctum sanctorum.

Meanwhile, TTD Executive officer Dr. D. Sambasiva Rao said the management was committed to extending transparent service to pilgrims thronging the town.

Staff Reporter writes from Chittoor: Chittoor district, especially its rural pockets, came alive with Ugadi celebrations. Special pujas were performed at the temple of Lord Vinayaka at Kanipakkam. Thousands of devotees thronged the temple, marking the Telugu New Year.

‘Panchamrutha abhishekam was performed and in the evening. The temple administration also distributed Ugadi pachchadi and ‘prasadam’ to the devotees. In Kuppam, people thronged the Puli Gangamma and Lord Shiva temple.

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Tirupati gears up for Sri Mahalakshmi Yagam

TIRUPATI, March 17, 2015

Artisans at work at the site of the 16th Sri Mahalakshmi Yagam in Tirupati.—Photo: A.D. Rangarajan

2,000 priests to take part in event beginning on March 22

The Krishna Teja Educational Group campus in Tirupati is being tastefully spruced up for the conduct of ‘16th Sri Mahalakshmi Yagam’ from March 22 to April 4, timed to coincide with the appearance day of the Goddess.

While pontiff ‘Anantha Sree Vibhushitha’ Sri Ramachandra Ramanuja Jeeyar has conducted 15 Yagams over the last 15 years in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Bhimavaram, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Mahabubnagar, Nellore etc, he has chosen the abode of Lord Venkateswara for the 16th, considered the ‘grand finale’.

About 2,000 Ritwiks (priests) from across India and Nepal are participating in the grand event, while seers and saints representing major religious bodies will share the stage.

The Jeeyar has embarked on a mammoth ‘Bhikshatana’, a walkathon across the countryside to mobilise resources for the event. While he toured 350 villages in each of the 15 Yagams conducted earlier, he is currently visiting 1008 villages, given the higher scale of operations. “A symbol of collectivism, the idea behind the ‘Bhikshatana’ is to let the masses partner in the event and get the divine blessings,” a spokesperson said.

The emergence of Goddess Lakshmi during the churning of the mythological milky ocean will be depicted at the ‘Ksheerarnava Mandapam’. The makeshift tank will be filled up with 5008 litres of milk to enact the divine spectacle in the early hours of April 3. As a prelude, a grand procession ‘Sobha Yatra’ will be taken out from the SVIMS to Indira Maidan on March 22, in which 1,600 artistes from 16 States will perform with music bands.

‘Archana’ will be performed to the deity with one crore Kumkuma, Tulasi and jasmine flowers. Apart from global peace and common good, dedicated individual-oriented (desire-fulfilling) ‘Havans’ will be performed for child-bearing, profitable businesses, marriage settlement etc. A total of 1,008 kg of pearls are to be used as ‘Thalambralu’ in the Kalyanotsavam (celestial wedding) to be performed on the final day.

Details at www.16srimahalakshmiyagam.org, 98665 76459, 98665 76359.

2,000 priests from India and Nepal to take part in the event to be conducted from March 22 to April 4

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Trust donates Rs. 1 cr. to TTD for promotion of Vedic edn

March 17, 2015 

Chennai-based Sriguru Chandrikananda Samiti religious trust on Monday donated Rs. 1 crore to the TTD’s Sri Venkateswara Veda Parirakshana Trust. A demand draft for the amount was handed over to TTD Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao.

Founder and chairman of the trust K. Venkatesan, who made the contribution, urged the TTD authorities to utilise the amount towards promotion of Vedic education, enlightenment of the masses in leading a purposeful and peaceful life besides taking up required initiatives for the dissemination of the invaluable knowledge embedded in the Vedas.

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Kalyanakatta, a kink in TTD’s neck?

TIRUMALA, March 16, 2015

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’s (TTD) Kalyanakatta, where around 20,000 pilgrims get their heads tonsured daily in fulfilment of their prayers, has turned into a corridor of corruption of late, going by the barrage of complaints being received from the devotees.

Even though corruption is not new at Kalyanakatta, the official ineptitude and avidness of the staff to spin fast bucks has added a new dimension to the menace. Though the management has initiated a slew of measures to tackle the issue, the staff always have some explanations ready in their support, whenever some regulations are imposed to curb any alleged irregularities.

In the past one week, many devotees allege that they were being subjected to arduous wait to get their heads tonsured. Even though staff shortage and surge of devotees during weekends are cited as the primary reasons for this, pilgrims accuse the hair dressers of deliberately consuming more time in clearing the crowd.

Some feel that it is another deceptive tactic of the Kalyanakatta staff which is adopted to showcase their naivety over the issue. The monthly ‘Dial TTD EO’ programme held last week was flooded with complaints of forcibly extortions and the instances wherein devotees were left to bleed (with cuts on their heads), if they failed to ‘comply’ to the expectations of hair dressers.

Probe ordered

The management ordered a high-level enquiry into the complaints, including the alleged pay-offs to the officials. An Assistant Vigilance and Security Officer (AVSO) working at the centre was also transferred. In response to the allegations, Kalyanakatta Deputy Executive Officer Krishna Reddy says: “I don’t know exactly the reason behind a sudden focus on Kalyanakatta. The town has seen huge crowds during Brahmotsavams, Vaikunta Ekadasi and other festive days in the past six months, but never did the waiting time stretch so anomalously. We can deftly manage the crowds with all wherewithals at our disposal.” As many as 600 hair dressers work round-the-clock at the complex in four shifts, of whom 300 are on regular pay rolls and the rest work on piece-rate system.

Meanwhile, disinclination of Kalyanakatta sevakulu (volunteers) to work at the centre is also seen as another influencing factor in the episode.

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Tirumala sees long queue for head tonsuring

TNN | Mar 15, 2015, 

TIRUMALA/HYDERABAD: Long queues at Tirumala are not an unusual sight, but on Saturday, a 3km long line had formed and it was not for darshan. The devotees had actually lined up for tonsuring their heads and the long delay in getting the ritual done was because of a shortage of barbers. 

On an average, about 30,000 devotees, mostly men, get their head tonsured every day, and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) generates about Rs 250 crore annually by selling hair. Apart from the main Kalyana Katta near the 'annadanam' canteen, there are 10 mini centres in Tirumala where the devotees can get their head tonsured. 

There are about 250 permanent barbers and 400 on contract, including 70 women barbers. While the permanent barbers are paid salaries, those on contract are paid Rs 2 per tonsured head. While the tonsuring is free of cost, most devotees on their own pay tips to the barbers. The barbers used to the tips now virtually demand it. 

The attendance of barbers on Saturday dropped by about 30 per cent, leading to the unusual shortage and long queue of men extending to about 3km at the main Kalyana Katta. While the authorities claimed that shortage of barbers was normal, many barbers skipped work on Saturday in protest against the TTD authorities shunting out vigilance officer Koteshwar Rao from the Kaylana Katta duties on Friday. "There were allegations of corruption involving the vigilance official and the barbers. Many barbers stayed away from work on Saturday as they apprehended action against them as well by the authorities," sources said. 

On their part, the barbers denied committing any irregularities while going about their job. "We do not demand money from the devotees, but if they give of their own accord, we take," said Tangavelu, TTD Barbers Association president said. 

According to those familiar with the state of affairs, each devotee pays upwards of Rs 10 to the barber after getting his head tonsured. As a result, the barbers make decent amount of money on a monthly basis just from tips in the range of Rs 1 to Rs 1.5 lakh. 

When asked about the developments, TTD EO D Sambasiva Rao said: "We are trying to streamline many things step by step, this (removing the vigilance official) was one such measure." The EO was in Hyderabad to meet chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, devotees complained that there were many deficiencies in the temple administration that needed to be addressed to and that the issue of barbers was not primary among them. "I was forced to stand in the line for 6 hours to get my head tonsured. If we give money on our own to the barbers, the authorities should not complain," said Srinivasa Rao, a devotee from Kadapa.

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Steps to be taken for water harvesting at Tirumala

TIRUPATI, March 13, 2015

Steps will soon be in place to conserve and harvest every drop of water flowing down the Seshachalam hills. Taking a cue from the suggestion made by the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu during his recent visit to the district, the authorities have prepared a broad plan to conserve water ahead of the impending summer.The ‘Tirupati Development Taskforce’, a body representing various departments formed more than a decade back to make a concerted effort to develop the temple city, met here on Thursday with the TTD Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao in the chair. While talks of developing Tirupati into a smart city and a mega industrial hub rent the air, serious discussion turned out to be on tackling the drinking water crisis and the monsoon vagaries.

Dr. Rao announced that steps had been taken to store water atop the hills to meet the requirements of the visiting pilgrims for the next 70 days.

Any shortfall would be made up by taking water from downhill through pipelines. “63 MLD of water is being drawn every day from Kandaleru reservoir to meet the needs of Tirupati and Tirumala”, he said.

Collector Siddharth Jain indicated steps to turn Tirupati into an educational cum industrial hub so as to provide job opportunities to the youth. He attributed the development of industrial zone in the eastern mandals of Renigunta, Yerpedu, Srikalahasti and Satyavedu to the presence of airport, highway connectivity.

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TTD’s ‘Subhapradam’ to begin on May 11

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthnams (TTD) will organise its novel programme on moral values, ‘Subhapradam’, from May 11 to 20 camp across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

TTD Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao said more than 30,000 students from the two States would attend the programme, besides writing an examination on the last day.

“The top seven participants from each district will be given merit certificates,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rao asked members of Dharma Prachara Mandali to effectively coordinate with Bhajan troupe members and Srivari Sevaks, besides advising them to rope in service organisations like Sri Ramakrishna Mission and Chinmaya Mission to propagate Dharma.

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TTD gearing up for Kodandarama Swamy Brahmotsavams from March 18

The temple administration of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is gearing up for yet another religious event – Annual Brahmotsavams of Sri Kodandarama Swamy, which is slated to begin from March 18 to March 26.

TTD’s Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao, on Thursday, released posters for the event and said that special cultural and spiritual programmes would be organised by Dasa Sahitya Project, Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad (HDPP) and Annamacharya Project during the annual brahmotsavams.

The nine-day event would commence with Dwajarohanam (March 18) and other important days include Garuda Seva (March 22), Rathotsavam (March 25), Chakrasnanam (March 26), Sri Rama Navami Utsavams (March 28 - March 30) and Float Festival (April 1 - April 3).

Meanwhile, TTD’s Joint Executive Officer (Tirupati) Pola Bhaskar, reviewed the arrangements with Heads of various departments, and instructed the concerned officials to look into issues such as erecting queue lines, minor repair works in mada streets, focus on health and sanitation, security and several others.

Giant screens

Giant screens will also be set up at pilgrim amenities complex – Srinivasam and Vishnunivasam, so that denizens and pilgrims can witness spiritual programmes and vahanam processions.

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Pilgrims to Monitor TTD CCTV Footage

By Express News Service

07th March 2015 

TIRUMALA: The TTD is contemplating to create more monitoring cells and bring officials closer to pilgrims.

Speaking to the media after the monthly Dial Your EO programme on Friday, EO D Sambasiva Rao, said CCTV camera and Kalyana Katta monitoring units, which are now watched secretly by security officers, are proposed to be opened to all so that even pilgrims or other passers-by could alert the staff concerned if anything goes wrong. It also cuts scope for malpractices by staff, he said.

If a barber takes money from pilgrims by colluding with the monitoring staff, other watchers can catch him. Also, if staff take bribes or commit malpractice it will be viewed by the public, he said. “We have changed the brand of blades used by barbers and taking steps to improve their skills. Soon, will install CCTV cameras at all the 18 small Kalyana Kattas at Tirumala and they will be monitored by both by the public and security personnel, which will help us check human long hair theft,” he said. In the second phase, the EO said 1,500 CCTV cameras will be installed in and around Tirumala, including the two ghat roads. Construction of watch towers to prevent wildfires is going on at a brisk pace, he said, adding that once all the 50 watchtowers are completed, effective monitoring of fires will be possible, he explained.

Bhakti Footage

From now, the rituals, festivals and devotional and cultural programmes aired by the SVBC channel will be available to the media and select organisations for wider reach to people, the EO said.

MORE WATER FOR TIRUMALA

“At Tirumala, we have water for 200 days of regular usage and from today, the TTD is going to draw 7 mld of Telugu Ganga water every day, instead of the earlier 4.5 mld, through Tirupati municipality. If the municipality improves its pipe lines, they will have very sufficient water and we can draw 10 mld per day,” the EO said.

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TTD conducts Saraswathi Puja

March 6, 2015

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishat conducted special Saraswathi Puja at a school at Machavaram here on Thursday. More than 100 class X students participated in the puja conducted to seek blessings of the goddess. The TTD officials also distributed ‘Saraswathi Raksha Kankanalu’ among the students. They are planning to distribute the Saraswathi Raksha Kankanalu in 500 schools across the district in the next two days, a press release stated. For details one may call 94949-43166.

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Panel urges TTD to work for cause of underprivileged children

TIRUPATI, March 4, 2015

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council (APLC) Committee for Privileges has appreciated the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for taking care of the hearing impaired infants and the to-be launched programme for the mentally retarded. In the same breath, the panel has advised the temple management to take its noble intention beyond Tirupati and establish centres in Guntur and Visakhapatnam for the benefit of the under-privileged children.

The panel held a review meeting with the TTD Executive Officer D.Sambasiva Rao, Joint Executive Officers K.S. Sreenivasa Raju (Tirumala) and P. Bhaskar (Tirupati) on Tuesday on the various developmental programmes and amenities to ensure hassle-free darshan and stay for the pilgrims among other things. Speaking to the media later, the committee Chairperson P. Samanthakamani (Anantapur) said that the panel also advised the TTD to inculcate noble values and ethical education to Model School students by teaching Annamacharya Kirtans, Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatham and other slokas. The panel also expressed satisfaction over the massive propagation efforts taken up by the TTD through its Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishat, SV Bhakti Channel, and ‘Sapthagiri’ spiritual magazine, besides by holding innovative programmes like ‘Sadacharam’, ‘Subhapradam’, ‘Srinivasa Kalyanam’ and ‘Venkateswara Vaibhavotsavam’. Hailing ‘Sravanam’, a project for the aurally-challenged children, Ms. Samanthakamani asked the TTD to conceive a similar programme for the mentally-retarded children. Panel members Vitapu Balasubramanyam (Tirupati), Vakati Narayana Reddy (Nellore), M.Geyanand (Anantapur) and B. Indira (Rajahmundry) took part.

TTD told to establish centres in Guntur, Visakhapatnam for the benefit of poor children

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Info on TTD assets to be put on website

Tirumala, February 28, 2015

The TTD s Executive Officer Dr. K. Sambasiva Rao on Friday said that efforts were on to make available all the information with regard to the assets particularly the landed properties of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanms Tirumala temple on its official website.

The move is considered as an accurate step in safeguarding the landed properties of the TTD spread all across the country and the value of which reportedly runs into several thousands of crores of rupees from all kinds of encroachments and possible intrusions.

Likewise efforts are also on to make optimum utilization of the technology in enhancing the services to the visiting pilgrims be it providing of darshan slots, accommodation and arjitha seva tickets.

Talking to media persons Dr. Rao said that the TTD was in touch with the TATA Group of consultants who have come forward to assist the management in acclimatising with the latest technology.

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Photos: Theppotsavam in Tirumala

March 02,2015 

The five-day annual Theppotsavam at Sri Vari Temple, Tirumala began here on Sunday.The processional deities of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanumantha, were taken around the mada streets encircling the holy shrine in grand procession before reaching the venue, Sri Vari Pushkarini (temple tank). 

Later, the deities were mounted on the colourfully illuminated Float, and were dragged around the holy tank amidst great religious fervour from 7PM to 8PM.

Tens of thousands of devotees congregated on the holy steps of the temple tank, hours in advance to enjoy the colourful festival. While asthana vidwans played the nadaswaram' the temple priests recited verses from the holy scriptures. The entire programme lasted for more than one hour.

Teppa Utsavam or Plavotsavam is the float festival which is usually observed for Five days in Srivari Pushkarani, in Tirumala Temple every year. It is an annual festival celebrated in the month of Paluguna (March/April) on the days of Ekadasi, Dwadasi, Trayodasi, Chaturdasi and Pournami(Full Moon Day). 

This year 2015, Srivari Teppotsavam (Float Festival) is celebrated from March 1, 2015 (Sunday) to March 5, 2015(Thursday).

The earliest inscription of 1468 A.D. says that Sriman Maha Mandaleswara Medini Misraganda Kathhari Saluva Narasimha Raju Udayar", the Son of one "Saluva Gundaya Deva Maharaja Udayar", built a Vasanta Mantapam in the middle of Swami Pushkarani Teertha.Even today it is this mandapam from where the Teppa Utsavam starts. Earlier this festival was celebrated for nine days. But now it is being observed for five days starting from Ekadasi and concluding on Pournami.

On every day the processional deities will be taken around the four mada streets(temple streets) encircling the holy shrine in grand procession before reaching the Srivari Pushkarani (Temple Tank). The deities are mounted on the colourful illuminated float boat. On the first day the processional deities of Lord Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya are taken round the Pushkarani Teertha in three rounds seated in well decorated float.

On the second day, Lord Sri Krishna and Goddess Rukmini Devi are taken round the Pushakarani Teertha to give darshan to the myriads of devotees in three rounds.On the Third, Fourth and Fifth days, Lord Sri Malayappa Swamy along with his consorts Goddess Sridevi and Goddess Bhudevi, seated in the float go round on all sides of the temple tank in three, five and seven rounds respectively.

TTD has cancel "Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva" for the first two days i.e. on March 1, and March 2 Smilarly it has cancelled Arjitha Brahmotsavam, Vasanthotsavam and Sahasra Deepalankarana Sevas for the next three days i.e. from March 3 to March 5. It has also cancelled monthly Pournami Garuda Vahana Seva on March 5.

Tirumala temple to use TCS services

February 27, 2015 

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been selected as the technology partner to offer all the online services, including e-darshan and advance and current booking of services, at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the abode of Lord Balaji.

TTD chief executive officer D Sambashiva Rao announced the decision after discussing the details of the collaboration with TCS CEO N Chandrasekaran on Friday.

“Besides the technology support for the online services of the TTD, the TCS will also support the web-based activities of the temple administration, including the online publications and the TTD website maintenance,” Rao said in a statement.

Tirumala temple receives the highest number of pilgrims in the country, in the range of 30-40 million visitors annually.

Andhra Pradesh ranks number one in tourist visitors on account of Tirumala pilgrims.

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TTD to focus on Alwar project research works

TIRUMALA, February 23, 2015

TTD Executive Officer Dr. D. Sambasiva Rao on Sunday said more focus would be laid on research works relating to the Alwar Divya prabandha project.

Participating in the 961st Avatharotsavam of Ananthalwar organised at the Ananthalwar gardens here, Dr. Rao extolled the altruistic services of the great soul who discharged his services with utmost perfection and devotion and earned the blessings of the presiding deity thorough his Pushpakainkaryam.

Focus also should be on bringing out the great works of the saint in the form of publications, translations and research papers besides providing a scholarship of Rs.10,000/- per month to three research scholars for three years.

TTDs senior pontiff Sri Thiruvengada Ramanuja Peeda Jeeyar along with his deputy Chinna Jeeyar also delivered Anugraha Bhashanam on the propitious occasion.

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