Tirupati VIP darshan slots set to be rejigged

TIRUPATI: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has decided to do away with the existing three categories of VIP darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara, the presiding deity of the world’s richest temple. The TTD will announce its alternative plan on VIP darshan on Wednesday evening.
The move comes in the backdrop of AP High Court seeking explanation from the TTD on the existing three categories — List 1, List 2 and general category darshan — following a public interest litigation.The TTD will submit its explanation to the court on Thursday (July 18) when the PIL comes up for hearing.
Under L1 darshan, devotees are given ‘aarti’ and ‘thirtham’, whereas in other two categories (L2 & general) pilgrims are not offered these.
TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy on Tuesday said the temple administration has suspended with immediate effect the system of classification of VIP darshan into the three different categories. "Officials have been directed to explore a suitable alternative", Subba Reddy told reporters.
The TTD’s alternative plan on VIP darshan is likely to make room for more number of common pilgrims waiting in long queues.
Ever since the system of classification of VIP darshan into three different categories was introduced a few years ago, there has been widespread discontent even among the VIP devotees as everyone wanted to have darshan under List 1 only. Over the years this system also brought disrepute to the temple administration owing to several allegations of irregularities in the issuance of the VIP tickets.
Subba Reddy also said the TTD would look into the possibilities of reintroduction of “Archana Anantara Darshan”, which was a big hit among devotees but was suspended almost a decade back.
TTD execitive officer Anil Kumar Singhal said: ‘‘We have in-principle agreed to suspend the classification of VIP break darshan under the three categories. TTD’s special officer has been asked to work out the modalities of the new VIP break darshan system. Within a day or two we will come to a conclusion and make an announcement on the new mechanism. We will also have to communicate the same to the HC on Thursday,” Singhal said.
It is, however, learnt that the temple administration has decided to continue the VIP darshan under only one category. Besides the ‘protocol VIPs’, who would either be allowed to enter the temple at the beginning of the VIP break darshan or at the end of the VIP break darshan inside the sanctum sanctorum, all other VIP devotees will be provided a similar darshan under the new system unlike the old system of three different categories.