Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has begun preparations for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala from December 20 to 29, with crowd control, queue monitoring, security and parking identified as key operational priorities.
Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary and Chief Vigilance and Security Officer K.V. Murali Krishna reviewed arrangements with senior officials at a meeting in Tirumala on Thursday. Chowdary directed officials to make arrangements for the event, which is among the major religious occasions held at Tirumala after the Brahmotsavams.
The scale of the annual gathering is reflected in last year’s attendance. TTD officials said 7.83 lakh devotees were provided darshan during the 10-day event last year. Chowdary instructed officials to make similar arrangements this year, placing the focus on maintaining access for devotees while managing large volumes of movement through the temple complex.
For the first three days of the event, TTD will allot slotted Sarva Darshan tokens through an online electronic dip. Sarva Darshan will be available for the remaining seven days. The arrangement is intended to facilitate darshan for common devotees and distribute access across the opening phase of the 10-day schedule.
Chowdary also directed officials to allow Sarva Darshan devotees to have darshan on December 25, even during the Friday Abhishekam. The instruction forms part of the operational planning for the event and sets out how access for Sarva Darshan devotees is to be handled during the scheduled ritual.
Queue management will be monitored continuously through the Integrated Command Control Centre. Officials have been instructed to use the centre to monitor queue lines and reduce waiting time. The system will therefore serve as a central point for tracking movement and responding to congestion during the event.
Security planning is being handled separately alongside crowd and queue arrangements. Murali Krishna said elaborate security measures would be made to manage the expected rush. TTD will also take special measures to prevent parking problems in Tirumala, where the concentration of visitors during the event is expected to place additional pressure on available parking and movement arrangements.
The final seven days are expected to draw a large number of devotees, according to the TTD security chief. Advance arrangements will be made during this period to manage crowds and ensure security. The December 20-29 schedule, the electronic token process for the first three days and continued Sarva Darshan access for the remaining seven days will form the basis of the operational plan reviewed by officials.
