TTD: Never had special prayers for New Year

TIRUPATI: The TTD has never celebrated January 1 as the New Year and will not do so this year either, TTD E.O. Anil Kumar Singhal told media persons on Tuesday. An internal circular was issued by Hindu Dharma Parirakshana Trust through Endowments departments last week to stop celebrating new year at the temples in the state.

Mr Singhal was speaking at the Tirumala temple. He said, “TTD has never arranged a special puja on New Year. We are carrying the same decoration of the Lord, which was done for Vaikunta Ekadasi as it falls before new year. But, we have never decorated the temple exclusively for New Year. The same will be followed this year too. We have limited the VIP protocol because we are considering January 1 as a heavy rush day. We only do Vaikunta Ekadasi and Ugadi grandly.”  
Earlier in the day, Mr Singhal participated in the traditional temple cleansing festival, Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam, along with CVSO Ake Ravi Krishna in the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala prior to the auspicious Vaikuntha Ekadasi.

Sources said, this cleansing process took place between 6 and 10 am. Later, all the puja materials were brought back to the temple and the cover on the deity was removed. The Sarva Darshan commenced from 11 am for pilgrims. TTD has cancelled Astadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva in connection with this religious event on Tuesday.