Is TTD turning commercial ? The latest thinking and moves of the TTD authorities suggest the same. The TTD is thinking of stopping the free laddu distribution and also avoiding the darshan for people who come to the hills on foot.
The traditions which have been going on since last several decades are on the verge of closure. Like free meals, the TTD now can call for donations to free laddus also. There will be lakhs of devotees who would like to give donations for laddus also.
Free Prasadm is also a big sentiments for the pilgrims coming to the Lord Balaji. In the same fashion Pilgrims like to worship the lord by trekking to the lord of 7 hills.
The new decision to stop free Laddu and free darshan will definitely have a bearing on the mind of pilgrims. It is better if the new EO thinks twice before making such discussions. In the coming days some body might suggest that free meals distribution should also be stopped. This is nothing but turning the TTD into a commercial entity.
Tirupati is as popular for its Laddu prasadam apart from the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara. But now, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) is all set to shock thousands of its devotees with its new rules!
TTD had a practice of giving two laddus as prasadam, and a special darshan, for those who climbed the hill on foot. But the TTD will soon cancel this privilege, and people who climb the hill will also have to stand in the queue to get Lord’s darshan.
The devotees will no longer be given the laddus for free, because the TTD feels this practice has cost them dearly and the temple has incurred a losses!
Interestingly, the TTD gets Rs 2 crore as Hundi offerings on a daily basis on an average. The temple also gets donations and gifts in addition. Therefore, the claim that giving two laddus for free to each devotee causes an unbearable loss to the temple is quite hard to digest.
Those who come to the temple by foot climb the hill for more than six hours will get disappointed if there is no darshan. But with no special darshans on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, meeting Lord Venkateshwara even after walking for hours will become difficult.
This idea will boomerang and the new EO will be finally blamed for this. The authorities of the TTD should never think of stopping the free darshan or free meals apart from the free laddu.
Laddu prasadam is the like the life for TTD and it is very much a top priority for the pilgrims. They can purchase any number of Laddus, but still they prefer this free laddus that they get on the tickets that they purchase for darshan.
The very idea of removing the free concept will irk the minds and sentiment of the pilgrims.
U.Srinivas
Editor
