Despite all rules and regulations, money plays a major role at the TTD. Chandrababu the AP CM wanted to make it a corruption free religious place, but the system has two layers and one works purely with money and not even influence. A phone call from a central minister is also ignored.
In the name of VVIPs the letters are issued for darshans and cottages, but there should be a proper man handling these letters.The local middle man is must for getting your letters into proper usage. If the pilgrims deal with them directly it is of no use. A central minister recommending a L1 darshan is of no use. The letter should be carried by a local man properly which ensures some benefit to the local man giving you the clearance.
The JEO office holds the key and local police also have their say in majority of the religious business happening on the TTD. They can assure anyone anything and also ignore any one for anything. They expect a central minister to call them for any help. They just ignore the letters and also the protocol. In the name of holidays, Saturday and Sunday rush they create so many things.
Letters are treated from the front door and also the back door. If you know the right contact everything can be done but it should be laced with money. Overnight one can create a darshan.People say god created human beings, but the lord of TTD is in the clutches of few officials who are also human beings.
Everything is blamed on the rush. But some times it is just open, but they claim heavy rush all the time. In winters and Rainy the rush is less, but they still say heavy rush is pouring in which is not true.
Some board members also with the clout of the Government are running the show and they are very popular. Getting a room itself takes half day, another half day for applying for a special darshan and then getting disappointed. If you are lucky you get a darshan the next day. You have to run from one pillar to another post for everything.
Give a letter in the morning. Get a room by noon, pay for the darshan in the evening if you are lucky to get one. Then have the darshan next morning of you are lucky. All depends on the whims of fans of the JEO office and his able staff. An ordinary local police can get you L1 darshan and a central minister cannot get you even an ordinary darshan. That is TTD. If lord blesses you, the poojari might say no to it. So make the Poojary or the official happy first, then the Lord will automatically bless you.
It is all left to our fate and the blessings of Lord Balaji finally. God is great.
U.Srinivas
Editor
