Tirumala temple town shut from today

● The last time the temple was completely closed down and even rituals were suspended, was in 1892 for unknown reasons, said TTD EO Anil Kumar Singhal

Pujas would continue to be performed at temple in private for 7 days

The Andhra Pradesh government and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) have on Thursday jointly taken a decision to seal the holy shrine and the entire hill temple town of Tirumala from Friday as a precautionary measure to contain the widely spreading Coronavirus pandemic.

The hill town of Tirumala, which is always buzzing with hectic pilgrim activity, and has millions of devotees of Lord Venkateswara visiting each year, has been closed for all pilgrims as part of a state-wide and nation-wide drive to contact Covid-19.

This is the first time in the TTD’s nine-decade long history that it has decided to stall Srivari darshan and restrict pilgrims’ entry. The closure would come into effect from Friday (12 noon) onwards for pilgrims. However, all daily kainkaryams (rituals) would be performed for the main deity by archakas (priests) as usual but in Ekantham (private) as per Agama sastras. Only the devotees would not be allowed for darshan.

Anil Kumar Singhal, executive officer, TTD, disclosed details to mediapersons on the closure of the temple at a conference held in Tirumala on Thursday evening.

He said that TTD has decided to stop Srivari darshan for a period of seven days from now. The decision was taken after receiving directives from the YSRC government in view of a Covid-19 suspect, who visited Tirumala on March 18. However, the TTD would allow only those pilgrims who have taken time slot tokens, VIP break darshan tickets and the Friday Arjitha Sevas for darshan, which were already issued on Thursday till 12 noon of Friday, he said.

Mr Singhal said that AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review on measures being taken by various temple trust boards to tackle Covid-19 on Thursday.

Post the review, CM Mr Reddy and TTD Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy and the state endowments department, resolved to suspend pilgrim worship at the Tirumala temple as well as at several other prominent temples in the state.

He said the TTD board chairman would review all decisions depending on fresh guidelines from the government after seven days. “According to ancient records available with the TTD, this is the first time in 128 years that pilgrim worship would be suspended at Tirumala, which is believed to be nearly 2,000 years old. The last time the temple was completely closed down and even rituals were suspended, was in 1892 for unknown reasons.”