There was heavy rush of devotees at Tirumala, the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara, to offer worship on the most auspicious ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ tomorrow, temple officials said today.
About three lakh devotees are expected to congregate on the hills on the occasion, the officials are expecting. The darshan of Lord Balaji will be allowed from 4 am onwards it is reported.
The devotees who reached Tirumala, half are expected to climb the hills through the 11 km long steep stairway, leading to the ancient shrine from Alipiri on the foothills.
After performing special pujas, devotees would be allowed into the temple from the small hours to beyond midnight on Sunday.
VIP darshan tickets are also expected to be issued by midnight tonight, they said.
The entire hill abode, including the temple complex, has been bedecked with several tonnes of flowers besides illuminated decorations.
A temple priest told that the idol of Lord Venkateswara would be adorned with precious ornaments, including golden ‘Peethambaram’, on the occasion.
The doors of the celestial ‘Vaikuntam passage way’, encircling the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, would be opened immediately after midnight.
Devotees after offering their prayers to the presiding deity would come out through the sacred passageway, sources said.
The doors are opened once a year only on ‘Vainkunta Ekadasi’ day, the priest said, adding, the Vaikuntam Passage way remains open on ‘Dwadasi’ day on Monday too for benefit of devotees.
Police bundobust has also been beefed up in Tirupathi and also on Tirumala taking inflow of Pilgrims into account. Enough number of Laddus are also being arranged to take care of the huge inflow of the pilgrims.
Water ,food, and milk is being provided for the pilgrims who are waiting in the line for Lords Darshan.
