The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is geared up for providing darshan to one lakh devotees every day at the replica of the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala under construction at the Swaraj Maidan here during the Krishna Pushkaram.
The makeshift temple being built for the 12-day river festival resembles in part one of the three designs of the permanent temple that the TTD will be constructing in Amaravati, said TTD Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao.
Speaking to media persons after inspecting the replica temple here on Sunday, Mr. Sambasiva Rao said it would be opened for darshan on August 7. All the arjitha sevas will be performed in ekantam and the temple opened for darshan from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Unjal Seva will be performed every day between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Mr. Sambasiva Rao said the devotees would be given pocket-size photos of Lord Venkateswara Swamy and His consort in addition to prasadam. Cultural programmes would be organised every day under the aegis of the Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad (HDPP) and the Annamacharya and Dasa Sahitya projects.
The TTD is making arrangements for the pushkaram at a cost of Rs.7.50 crore. It has deployed 650 employees and will press more than 1000 volunteers into service. An exhibition of fruits and flowers, a photo expo and Ayurveda and books stalls would be added attractions.
Forty-three books published by the TTD would be released and 11 CDs containing Annamayya Pataku Pattabhishekam programme of the Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel sold to the devotees, the EO added.
Joint Executive Officer K.S. Srinivasa Raju said there would be four lines for darshan and separate entry-exit points. Special Officer N. Mukteswara Rao gave details of the cultural programmes planned to be organised at the Swaraj Maidan, Buddha statue at Amaravati, Srikakulandhra Maha Vishnu temple and at Jogulamba temple in Alampur. Annaprasadam would be distributed to over one lakh devotees during the festival. Besides, religious discourses would be organised on all days of the historic event. TTD Chief Vigilance and Security Officer Siva Kumar Reddy, Superintending engineer Sudhakar Rao, Executive Engineer Nageswara Rao and Annaprasadam Trust special officer Chenchu Lakshmi were among those present.