Coronavirus: Tirupati temple to reopen on June 11 after trial runs

Vijayawada: Nearly 75 days after closing the Srivari Temple for darshan to devotees amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is all set to allow darshan of Lord Venkateswara for devotees from June 11. However, TTD will conduct trial runs with its employees maintaining physical distance and has sought the state government’s permission for the same.

The TTD queues will be modified and there will be a cap on the number of devotees. “We will conduct trial runs on June 8 and 9, and if necessary, on June 11, with TTD employees, security staff, and trust board members, and assess how quickly darshan can be provided,” TTD Trust Board chairman YV Subba Reddy said.

The temple premises have been well decorated and the guidelines have been issued which state that each devotee has to maintain a minimum distance of six feet, children below 10 years and senior citizens have been restricted from visiting the temple.

The darshan will be provided for a maximum of 7,000 devotees per day of which 3,000 tickets will be booked online. VIP darshan will be permitted only for an hour from 6 am to 7 am and no recommendation letters will be entertained. Reddy assured a pleasant darshan for every pilgrim amid the coronavirus crisis.