Tirupati sees 'ocean of devotees' in summer break; pilgrims urged to postpone visit for now

The waning of the COVID-19 pandemic, summer vacations and the weekend led to an “unprecedented pilgrim rush” at the Tirumala Venkateshwara Swamy temple. It has led to an “ocean of devotees” on the Tirumala hill, which has made the waiting time for sarva darshanam (free darshan) 48 hours.

On Saturday (May 28), 89,318 pilgrims had darshan of the diety, while about 30,000 more were waiting on the hill. According to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the waiting time for sarva darshanam (free darshan) went up to 48 hours and the officials, therefore, have requested devotees planning to visit Tirupati to postpone and reschedule their visits for now.

Temple authorities have cancelled the VIP break darshan facility till Wednesday (June 1), to allow more pilgrims inside the temple.

According to an official who spoke to a leading south daily, the pilgrim influx is higher than at the time of Vaikunta Ekadasi, Garuda Seva or any other auspicious day.

Also read: 3 injured in stampede-like situation at Tirumala shrine

The queue lines and 30 waiting compartments in the Vaikuntam complex are chock-a-block. The line outside the temple has extended up to two kms, and a long line of cars are waiting their turn at the Alipiri toll gate, the entry point into Tirupati.

The temple has a capacity to take in 4,500 pilgrims every hour, but currently nearly 8,000 pilgrims are flocking into the temple. This situation is expected to continue for a few more days.

Meanwhile, the temple hundi on Saturday collected ₹3.76 crore, while on Thursday (May 26), the collection was a whopping ₹5.43 crore.