Brahmotsavam earns Rs 5.77 cr for Tirupati Devasthanams

TIRUPATI: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) earned Rs 5.77 crore till Tuesday, during the just concluded Brahmotsavam of Lord Venkateswara as against Rs 6.13 crore earned during the same period last year.While 4.25 lakh devotees attended the festival this year, 3.96 lakh devotees attended Brahmotsavam in 2001.Addressing reporters at Tirumala on Tuesday after the completion of Brahmotsavam, TTD Trust Board chairman P Chalapathi Rao said, the Srivari Hundi alone netted Rs 3.61 crore, while the TTD received Rs 1.39 crore through the sale of tickets and Rs 82 lakh by sale prasadams.While, 1,86,905 people had free-darshan during this Brahmotsavam, 1,76,022 pilgrims had free-darshan last year, he said, adding, similarly, 2,38,216 availed the special darshan facility as against 2,19,871 corresponding last year. 1,19,682 people availed the medical facility at the TTD-run hospitals during the festival, he said.Chairman said 40 'Harikathas', 50 musical concerts and 25 'Burrakathas' were organised during the Brahmotsavam. He said the TTD provided accommodation to 33,80,617 people this year while 21,97,092 pilgrims were provided accommodation last year.Nearly 2,26,110 lakh people tonsured their head during this Brahmotsavam and the number stood at 1,84,785 lakh last year. As many as 2,04,730 people were fed at the Annadanam complex as against 1,57,050 lakh last year. Apart from this, the TTD distributed 1,15,000 food packets during the festival, he said.The APSRTC transported 6,25,587 devotees during the Brahmotsavam this year, while 5,82,535 pilgrims were transported during Brahmotsavam last year.Rao said that 1,027 volunteers participated in Srivari seva this year while only 478 volunteers participated last year. During last Brahmotsavam 4,202 man-days were generated and it rose to 9,263 man-days this year, he said. The nine-day annual Brahmotsavam of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala concluded on Tuesday with the performance of Chakra Snanam amidst chanting of vedas and mantras. In the evening, Dwajavarohanam was performed lowering the celestial Garuda flag at the Dwaja Sthambam, marking the conclusion of the nineday festivities.The processional deity Lord Malayappa Swamy and His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi were taken in a procession accompanied by Chakrathalwar, the divine army commander of the Lord, to Sri Varaha Swamy temple where the celestial bath was performed.After the conclusion of the rituals connected with the Brahmotsavam, the Chakrathalwar was given a holy dip in the Swamy Pushkarini. At the same time, thousands of devotees who had congregated on the banks of the Pushkarini took a holy dip.