Yadadri witnesses huge rush of devotees due to long weekend

Hyderabad: The Yadadri Sri Lakshminarsimha Swamy temple witnessed a huge rush of devotees due to the long weekend, leading to a probable three-fold increase in the daily income on Sunday. There were holidays on April 5 on the occasion of Babu Jagjivan Ram birth anniversary followed by Good Friday on April 7 second Saturday on April 8 and Sunday.

As thousands of devotees from Hyderabad and several districts besides those from neighbouring states, thronged the temple to have darshan of the Lord and to take part in rituals. It took four to five hours for general darshan and two hours for special darshan at the temple. The temple streets, mada veedulu, were packed with the devotees.

Serpentine queue lines of devotees were seen at the prasadam counters on the hill shrine.

The Yadadri temple income has also witnessed a corresponding increase in its income from all sources including hundi collections.

According to N. Geetha, executive officer of the Yadadri temple, on April 5, the temple registered an income of Rs 20,05,714, which increased to Rs 22,78,258 on April 6, Rs 31,32,172 on April 7 and Rs 51,62,780 on April 8.

The income for Sunday was not added up but it was expected that it would cross Rs 60 lakh. The income was accrued through sale of darshan tickets, prasadam, laddus, daily rituals, donations, hundi collections etc.

While 28,000 devotees thronged the temple on April 5, it almost doubled to 50,000 on April 8 and is expected to have touched the 55,000-mark on Sunday.

Prior to the renovation, 5,000 to 10,000 devotees used to visit temple every day on average on normal days and 15,000 to 20,000 on holidays. The income from all sources including hundi collections used to be Rs 12 lakh to Rs 15 lakh  on normal days and Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh on holidays.

After renovation and reopening of the temple on March 28, 2022, the rush of devotees increased to 20,000 to 30,000 on normal days and 50,000 to 60,000 on holidays. The temple's income increased to Rs 30 lakh on normal days and Rs 55 lakh on holidays.