Om Namo Padmanabhaya Namah

Good morning friends, welcome to Tirumala Wishesh, your daily source of complete information on timings at Tirumala, rush and even the availability of rooms on the holy seven hills. The rush at Tirumala today is moderate itself. In fact, compared to Wednesday, the rush today is low. So, go through the timings taken for seeking blessings of Lord Sri Venkateshwara Swamy.

• It is taking five hours for entering sanctum sanctorum through Sarva Darshanam

• For Pratyeka Pravesha Darshanam, it's taking three hours

• To those taking pedestrian path to Tirumala, it's taking two hours (Divya Darshanam)

Those who have Sudarshan tokens needn't worry about time as it would usually take not more than two hours on any time to seek blessings of Tirupati Balaji. On Wednesday, over 50,000 devotees thronged Vaikuntam queue complex and had glimpse of the deity.

That's all for today friends. Have a great darshan of Srivaru. Catch you all tomorrow!

(AW Phani)

February 19

Heavy rush has been reported at Tirumala today too. In fact, all the 26 queue compartments are filled with devotees. For special darshan (Rs.300), it's taking around five hours to enter sanctum sanctorum while it's taking 13 hours to seek blessings of Lord.

The reports said that many devotees thronged Tirumala temple on Saturday morning on the eve of Ratha Sapthami (the birthday of Surya Bhagawan). However, many devotees couldn't get a chance to have a glimpse of the deity due to heavy rush although they got a chance to see Sri Malayappa Swamy's procession in madaveedhulu (streets encircling the shrine).

So, all those devotees who didn't have darshan stayed back and are taking blessings of the deity. Today, being Tuesday, the special darshan would reportedly be only till afternoon.

Andhra Wishesh brings you day to day updates on Tirumala. So, those wishing to know seva timings and rush at Tirumala will get the timely updated information here. Do visit this space daily morning for Tirumala updates.

(AW Phani)

Ratha Sapthami would be celebrated with much pomp and geity at Tirumala tomorrow on the eve of birth of Surya Bhagwan (Sun God). At Tirumala, Ratha Sapthami would be celebrated grandly every year wherein Sri Malayappa Swamy (utsav deities) would adorn all the seven chariots and move in tiru madaveedulu (the streets encircling sanctum sanctorum). Since Sri Varu would be moving on all vehicles on one day, this particular day in Tirumala is often referred to as one day Brahmotsavam.

On the eve of Ratha Sapthami, all arjitha sevas (daily and weekly rituals on main deity) would be conducted in ekantham while other sevas such as unjal seva, vasanthotsavam, kalyanam have been cancelled.

Arrangements:

Arrangements are in place to ensure that no inconvenience takes place to the pilgrims. Drinking water taps have been arranged near the gallaries at mada veedulu. All the streets in Tirumala have been illuminated beautifully.

Andhra Wishesh would be giving a comprehensive coverage on Ratha Sapthami at Tirumala tomorrow. So, do visit this space on Sunday.

(AW Phani)

Andhra Wishesh has throwing focus on the magnitude of marriages and the amount spent on them in the last three days—February 13, 14 and 15th. While people went ahead and spent in dozens of lakhs over their wedding ceremony, not to forget some of them who think that getting married at the feet of Lord Sri Venkateshwara Swamy is a bliss. Therefore, good amount of people even entered into the wedlock in a low key affair but the number was, however, big.

If we have to go by the reports, at least 1000 weddings were solemnized at Tirumala temple till last midnight . In fact, since the space where marriages would be performed was not sufficient, some couples were solemnized the wedding in the open space beside the kalyana mandapams. All cottages and mutts were completely occupied by the marriage parties.

For the past three days, Tirumala was almost occupied by newly wedded couple or by brides and grooms. In order to avoid jostling among couples who wish to seek blessings of deity after weddings, a separate queue line was arranged.

India might be a rich country and people might spend over 25 lakh rupees on their weddings but it's a good sign that how many people still believe that it's now high profile marriage that matters but the marriage that's performed at the feet of Lord Sri Venkateshwara Swamy. At the end it's how satisfied and contended the couple are with the marriage and now how lavishly they celebrated the event.

(AW Phani)

Tension is still prevailing in Tirupati in the wake of Sri Lanka president Mahenda Rajapakse's arrival.A large number of Tamils, who were at Alipiri gate, to protest the arrival of Rajapakse were taken into the custody by the police. MDMK leader Vaiko has also said that his party activists would obstruct Rajapakse from reaching Tirumala.

Whether this issue can be seen from a political angle or not, obstructing a person from reaching God's abode is something not welcoming. Had he been on a visit to some other place on some other occasion, none would have actually raised eye brows, but Rajapakse was heading to seek blessings of Lord Balaji at Tirumala. Anyway, Congress sarkar in the state is obviously looking at the issue as law and order problem and that's the reason over 200 Tamils were taken into the custody. Whether they would be produced in the court and sent back to Tamil Nadu is a big question.

(AW Phani)

Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams (TTD)  came out with a new rule for its employees. The devastanam officials decided that all the employees will be allowed to enter into the office only when they put vermilion (tilak) on their forehead. This new rule would be started in Kartheekamasam. It is known that Karthikamasam (a month in the lunar calendar) starts the day after Diwali festival and ends after 30 days. This particular month has been considered as auspicious by those who have been following Sanatana Dharma (the eternal law or Hinduism).

The TTD officials have said that they are going to make it mandatory. In case the vermilion on the forehead gets erased while traveling from home to office, then the employee can put vermilion outside the office for which the arrangements will be made, said officials. This new rule has been receiving mixed responses. However, many people welcomed this rule.

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(Video source: TV9)

(AW Phani)

The three-day-annual rituals, Pavithrothsavams at Tirumala temple, are scheduled to take place from July 29. Notably, every year, in the month of Shravana masam (holy season of Hindus), these rituals will take place. The rituals would begin with Ankurarpanam at Vasanthamantapam on temple premises and would conclude with Purnahuthi.

There were evidences that these three-day-annual festival were followed before 1464 A.D. The rituals were, however, not performed after that for unknown reasons and restarted in 1962. Since then, Pavithrothsavams have been performed at Tirumala temple.

(AW Phani)

Union Minister of Health and in charge of Party Affairs in Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad said the by-election for 18 assembly and one Lok Sabha seats on June 12 was being held due to the 'selfishness' of one individual.

However, he did not name YSR Congress Party President Y S JaganMohan Reddy.

Addressing an election meeting at Municipal Grounds for Tirupati Assembly constituency, the vacancy caused due to the actor-turned political K Chiranjeevi becoming Rajya Sabha Member from Congress, Mr Azad said the by-election in Andhra Pradesh was not at all necessary.

He questioned Jagan on how he accumulated assets worth crores of rupees and informed the gathering that he had constructed palatial residences at Hyderabad and in Bangalore after earning money illegally.

On Jagan being jailed in the disproportionate assets case, Mr Azad cited examples of former Union Telecom Minister A Raja who was jailed in the 2G spectrum scam, former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddurappa who resigned after facing allegations of corruption and former Union Minister Suresh Kalmadi who was jailed in the Common Wealth Games scam.

The Union Minister said the Congress Party was not responsible for Jagan being in Jail and added the CBI was investigating the illegal assets case on the directions of Andhra Pradesh High Court.

He reminded that the Congress Party had made Jagan's father Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Chief Minister twice.

"I had strove to develop the temple town of Tirupati being a Union Minister," Mr Azad said, adding that the Centre had allocated Rs 60 crore for the development of SVIMS here.

He appealed to the electorate to elect the Congress Party candidates by voting in their favour in the hustings.

With large number of people arriving at Tirupati round the clock, the streets encircling railway station and Vishnunivasam (the accommodation down hills) will be filled with sea of devotees and chaos that not only creates confusion to pedestrians and obstruction to traffic but also enough scope for burglars and pickpocketers.

Keeping in view the same, Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam (TTD) came out with new plan. The board has decided to construct a foot over bridge between the railway station and Vishnunivasam. TTD EO, L V Subramanyam has said that all plans were made for setting up foot over bridge and they would soon call for tenders.

Also, TTD and railway officials-who took part in a meet in Tirupati to overlook the development of Tirupati railway station and problems of devotees-have said that a notice board will be displayed at Tirupati railway station that would give completed information to devotees pertaining to TTD including seva timings and availability of tickets.

They have also said that they were in a thought to remove cottages that have become old. Also, 10 touch screen enquiry counters would be set up at the railway station for the convenience of the public. (Phani)

The Tinsel world glamour doll and  Rajya Sabha member Jayaprada was at Tirupaty to have the Lord’s darshan on Tuesday. Early today the leader came for darshan and was given due honors, in the temple of Lord Shri  Venkaterswara on the seven hills. Today is the Leader’s birthday. Late last evening Jayaprada climbed the steps to the temple and relaxed on the hills. Early in the morning she visited the temple during the VIP breah time.

Jayaprada was initiated into the Telugu Desam Party by her former co-star N.T.Rama Rao in 1994. She later broke away from him and joined the Chandrababu Naidu faction of the party. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha representing Andhra Pradesh in 1996. Later after differences with Babu, she joined the Samajwadi party. Here also her tenure was short as she was expelled from the part along with her mentor Amar Singh.