Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, India's richest temple with an annual revenue of Rs800 crore, is now getting richer.
Tirupati temple hikes fees for well-heeled devotees in a hurry
BANGALORE: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), India's richest temple with an annual revenue of Rs800 crore, is now getting richer by putting a premium on those who jump the waiting list to offer special 'sevas'.
From this week, those who want to offer the 'vastralankara seva' (dressing up Lord Balaji and goddess Padmavati in silk) without being in the waiting list, will have to shell out Rs50,000 instead of the regular fees of Rs12,250.
Similarly, the fee for 'poornabhishekam' (complete bathing) has increased three folds - from Rs750 to Rs2,500 under the discretionary quota. The hikes are expected to increase the annual revenue by a couple of lakhs.
"Despite the long waiting list, VIPs and others with recommendations from influential people come here asking for earlier dates for their sevas and it becomes difficult for us to refuse. Accommodating such requests often upsets the schedule. Hence, the board decided to hike the rates for such special cases," TTD spokesperson Ramapulla Reddy told DNA.
Under the 'vastralanakara seva,' the main idol of Lord Balaji is given a 'celestial bath' at dawn and adorned with 'vastram' (dress) offered by the devotees. This is done every Friday, when 20 to 25 'vastrams' are accepted.
"There will be at least one recommendation from a VIP for the seva everyday. The hike in fees will either bring down the recommendations or increase the revenue," a TTD official said.
The latter seems likely, for recommendations keep mounting as the waiting list for such special offerings extend to about ten years. Make a booking now by paying regular rates and wait for ten years or pay three to four times more for an early date - that is the message TTD is giving the 50,000 devotees who throng the temple everyday.
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