Tirumala rush fails to subside, queues swell

 

With a string of holidays coming in a row, the hill town witnessed large crowds from across the globe as all the precautionary measures taken by the temple administration to ensure a hassle free pilgrimage to devotees were thrown out of gear. 

 

Devotees found it difficult to get accommodation even as serpentine queue lines at the tonsure centres, darshan queue lines, laddu counters and even at the bus stations were seen. 

 

While it took more than 30 hours for the pilgrims to complete the darshan of Lord Venkateswara through the ‘Sarva Darhan’ mode, the protracted waiting time stretched beyond 16 long hours for devotees reaching the hill shrine by foot, and for Rs 300 special entry the waiting time was close to 10 long hours. 

 

With the waiting compartments inside the Vaikuntam Q complex continuing to brim to their capacities, thousands of devotees who reached the hill shrine on Sunday were forced to wait outside the queue lines for their turn to even get inside the Q complex. 

 

With even the state run transport officials failing to estimate the holiday crowds and match the number of services accordingly, pilgrims had a real tough time while entering as well as exiting the hill shrine. 

 

With the heavy rush likely to continue till Tuesday, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has cancelled issuance of VIP darshan on recommendation letters on Sunday as well.