The number of visitors to Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple is 2 lakh on Saturdays and Sundays since Covid restrictions were lifted, head of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, A.V. Dharma Reddy, said at a programme in the city on Wednesday.
On weekdays, the count is around 1 lakh.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, with a workforce of 21,000, is the custodian of the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh.
“From April 1, 2022, we are operating full-scale, all relaxations have gone.… Now, on Saturday and Sunday about 2 lakh visitors come,” said Dharma Reddy, executive officer, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
He said that on the weekend, the visitors have to wait for 48 to 72 hours for darshan. “Our capacity is only 1 lakh (darshans) per day. When more pilgrims visit, they have to wait beyond 24 hours.”
Dharma Reddy was speaking at a programme organised by the Ladies Study Group where he was in conversation with author Anju Poddar.
The Ladies Study Group is the women’s wing of Indian Chamber of Commerce.
“The administration of Tirumala is very unique. It is a blend of religious, secular and social,” Dharma Reddy said.
The president of the group, Sucheta V. Merh, thanked him for coming to Kolkata.
“Your dedicated efforts and growth in development of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is both innovative and eco-friendly,” she said.
