Despite earning Rs 2600 crore, Tirupati feels free laddoos a 'loss'

It would seem that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) is no longer is a sweet mood. In a report to PTI, the TTD shared that the cost of the laddoos they distribute free to devotees is a 'loss' of over Rs 140 crore. 

The sweet dish has been sold by the TTD at a subsidised price of Rs 25 per piece for the last 11 years while the actual cost was about Rs 32.50, the sources said.

In 2016 about ten crore laddoos were sold, they told PTI. Besides the burden caused by subsidy, TTD also incurs more loss selling the laddoo at Rs 10 per piece to devotees who opt for free darshan and wait for several hours in long queues, resulting in a loss of about Rs 23 crore, the sources said.

The introduction of one free laddoo to each devotee who treks the 11-kilometre long stairway leading to the temple from the foot of the hills also adds about Rs 22.7 crore to the annual loss. More than 70 lakh devotees who avail Rs 300 special entry darshan and Rs 500 VIP darshan tickets were also getting two laddoos.

However, the sources said the TTD was not keen on increasing the price of the laddu to offset the losses and might consider cutting down the number of free laddus given to ticket holders.

This is an interesting lament by one of the richest temples in the world. As per its own budget for 2015-16, the TTD expected to earn Rs 905 crore from donations. Whereas, salaries are expected to cost the temple a whopping Rs 482 crore. And then there is the income earned as interest from the temple's accumulated wealth in various banks. As per an IANS report, back in 2014, the TTD had deposits totally some Rs 12,000 crore. 

The point of all this is simple. The temple would not exist if devotees did not make the trek to the hill, offering whatever they can. It is common for these trips to be a yearly thing for many families. 

How can a temple whose legendary earnings routinely rise above Rs 1000 crore per year not be able to supply every single devotee a token of their faith - a laddoo blessed by God? If you remove maintenance costs, salaries and the rest - have not India's believers given Tirupati that much wealth over the centuries to make this happen? 
 

• Tirupati
• Laddoos