This is the first time in the TTD’s 90 years (after 1892) long history that it has decided to stall Sri Vaari Darshan and restrict pilgrims’ entry. The closure will come into effect from Friday afternoon (12:00pm) onwards for pilgrims. TTD has decided to stop Sri Vaari darshan for a period of seven days from March 20 onwards.

Tirumala: The Andhra Pradesh Government and the TTD have jointly taken the decision to close the temple of Lord Venkateshwara from Friday as precautionary measures to contain the widely spreading Covid-19.

The TTD E.O Anil Kumar Singhal disclosed the details to media on the closure of the temple in a press conference on Thursday evening held at Tirumala. As per the source of executive officer, this is the first time in the TTD’s 90 years long history that it has decided to stall Sri Vaari Darshan and restrict pilgrims’ entry.

The closure will come into effect from Friday afternoon (12:00pm) onwards for pilgrims. TTD has decided to stop Sri Vaari darshan for a period of seven days from March 20 onwards. However all daily kainkaryams (rituals) would be performed for the diete by archakas (priests) as usual but in ekantam (private) as per Aagamashtras. Only the devotees would not be allowed for darshan, the hill town of Tirumala, which is always buzzing with hectic pilgrim activity, and has millions of devotes of lord Venkateshwara visiting every year.

The TTD has been closed for all pilgrims as part of a state wide and nationwide drive to contact to covid-19. However the TTD will allow those pilgrims who have taken timeslot tokens, VIP break darshans tickets and the Friday aarjitha sevas for darshan, which were already issued on Thursday till 12:00pm of Friday said TTD EO. Post the review, CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, TTD Chairman Y V Subba Reddy and the state Endowments departments resolved to pilgrims worship at the Tirumala Temple as well as at several other prominent temples in the state.