Tickets for Vaikunta Ekadasi to be released online by TTD on November 10th

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) will release Vaikunta Ekadasi tickets online on November 10, 2023, according to TTD executive officer (EO) AV Dharma Reddy. He made this announcement during the monthly Dial your EO programme held at the Annamayya Bhavan. A total of 28 pilgrim callers from different parts of the country participated in the programme.
Dharma Reddy also mentioned that the TTD will celebrate the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam fete from December 23 to January 1, 2024, allowing lakhs of devotees to have darshan. During this period, privileged darshans such as those for parents with infants, challenged persons, senior citizens, and NRIs will be cancelled. Arjita sevas will also be cancelled.
The EO stated that Rs 300 Special Entry Darshan (SED) tickets will be available online from November 10. Around 2.25 lakh tickets will be released for a 10-day period from December 23 to January. Additionally, 20,000 SRIVANI tickets will be released online during the festival days. SRIVANI ticket holders will have darshan for Rs 300 only during the Vaikunta Dwaram period, similar to previous years.
For the benefit of common pilgrims, the TTD will issue around 4.25 lakh Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD) tokens at 100 counters in nine different places in Tirupati during these days. Those without tickets or tokens can visit other places in Tirumala but will not be allowed for darshan during these ten days. The annual Brahmotsavam of Sri Padmavati temple at Tiruchanoor will also be observed from November 10-18.
Dharma Reddy also addressed the criticism from BJP leader Bhanu Prakash Reddy regarding the renovation of old mandapams. He condemned the criticism and stated that the renovated and redesigned Paruveta Mandapam was necessary. He offered to show both the photos of the old Mandapam and the newly renovated Mandapam to Bhanu Prakash Reddy. Dharma Reddy explained that the old Mandapam near Alipiri was beyond repair and hence had to be renovated based on the report from the engineering department. He clarified that no permissions were needed from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as both Mandapams were not under their jurisdiction. He expressed his disappointment with such criticism that hurt the sentiments of devotees and inflicted injustice on the Hindu community.