Agitation hits ‘Nityakalyanam’

Tirumala: There is a drastic fall in the number of people seeking to avail of TTD’s ‘Nityakalyanam’ programme during the auspicious ‘Shravana masam’ because of the Samaikyandhra agitation. It is a long-held belief that if marriages are performed in accordance with the ‘Shravana’ and ‘Satabhisha nakshtram’ (star) the couple would lead a happy and prosperous life.

There is also a steep decline in the number of devotees visiting the hill shrine, following the RTC strike. Visitors are forced to depend on private transporters who collect hefty fares. Over 5,000 weddings were performed in the presence of Lord Venkateswara last year, as per records. Only 80 weddings have been performed so far in this season to coincide with the ‘Satabhisha nakshatram’. Dhanwantari, a local priest, has appealed to devotees to avail of the benefits offered by TTD to perform marriages here.

Others have their way, come what may. Devotees Venkateswarlu of Hindupur and Anil Kumar of Guntur are happy that their families could fulfill their vows and have the Lord’s darshan, despite facing hardship in reaching the hill shrine. Some pilgrims said they had to use shortcuts while travelling to Tirumala, because of the Samaikyandhra agitation. The struggle has already paralysed the transport sector.