TTD Specified Authority takes charge in Tirumala; Vaikunta Dwara Darshan from 20 to 29 December, e-DIP tokens for the opening three days

Muddada Ravichandra, Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), was sworn in on Friday, 6 November as head of the TTD Specified Authority, the three-member body that now runs the temple trust in place of a Board of Trustees. He steps in as TTD gets ready for ten days of Vaikunta Dwara Darshan at the Tirumala temple, from Sunday, 20 December to Tuesday, 29 December.

Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary administered the oath at the Bangaru Vakili, the golden doorway of the Srivari temple. At the Ranganayakula Mandapam, Vedic scholars then recited blessings for him and handed over the Lord’s teertha prasadam.

Why a Specified Authority

The Trust Board headed by B R Naidu, named on 1 November 2024 along with 23 members, finished its two-year term on 31 October. On Monday, 2 November the state government issued GO Ms No 658, making Ravichandra chairman, with Finance Secretary V Vinay Chand and Revenue (Endowments) Secretary K Kanna Babu as the other two members. The body holds every power of the Board and will stay in place until a fresh Board is named, for twelve months at most. No date has been set for a new Board.

Speaking outside the temple, Ravichandra thanked Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Devotees, he said, should be able to keep their minds wholly on Lord Venkateswara during darshan while TTD takes care of everything around them. He named better teaching in TTD-run schools and colleges and modern care in its hospitals as his other priorities, along with services at the other temples the trust manages.

Tokens only for the opening three days

At a review held in Tirumala on Thursday, 5 November, Venkaiah Chowdary told officials that Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD) tokens for 20, 21 and 22 December will be issued online through an e-DIP draw, the same system TTD used last year. On the remaining seven days, devotees can join the free Sarva Darshan queue. On Friday, 25 December, Sarva Darshan devotees will also be let in during the Srivari Abhishekam.

The ten days last year brought 7.83 lakh devotees to the temple, a record. Queues will be tracked from TTD’s Integrated Command Control Centre. Chief Vigilance and Security Officer Murali Krishna said the biggest crowds are expected in the last seven days, and security and parking plans are being drawn up for them. TTD has not yet announced when the e-DIP will open.