Vaikunta dwara darshan: Locals throng in large numbers for offline tokens in Tirupati

Tirupati: Locals turned up in large numbers to avail the offline tokens started here on Thursday for Vaikunta Dwara Darshan in Tirumala temple from December 25 to January 3.

Braving chill weather, locals with families of women and children patiently stood in the line three to four hours before the commencement of the issuing of token early in the morning.

Elaborate arrangements on the part of TTD saw the issuance of the SSD (time slotted Sarva Darshan) tokens at five locations in the city going on smoothly.

Heavy rush was witnessed in the counters at the beginning of the issuing of tokens to public in the morning at 6 and thinned down after five hours and in some counters the queue line was empty.

However, it is learnt that in some locations, the issuing of SSD token started well before the issuing to general public, to enable select people get the SSD tokens for the first two days i.e. Ekadasi and Dwadasi (Dec 25 and 26). Contrary to the repeated assertions by TTD senior officials including Executive Officer Dr K S Jawahar Reddy making it clear that the issuing of SSD tokens is only for locals to have Vaikunta Dwara Darshan, tokens were issued to non-locals who stood in the queue lines at the counters, much to their elation and surprise. TTD allotted one lakh SSD tokens for locals i.e. 10,000 tokens per day for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam while 20,000 tokens daily of Rs 300 special entry tickets were issued online for ten days i.e. total of two lakh tickets.

TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy said 75,000 SSD tokens were issued at the counters set up for locals Vaikunta Dwara darshanam on the first day Thursday.

Reddy said that all the special entry tickets quota (daily 20,000) and donation based Srivani Trust break darshan tickets (daily 2,000) were over. In addition, TTD issuing about 4,000 tickets to VIPs including protocol for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam.