Tirumala Temple to sell laddus at 50% discount

Rs.1.97 crore e-Hundi collection in April 2020

Tirupati: With uncertainty continuing as to when the darshan will resume, Sri Venkateswara Temple authorities yesterday decided to sell ‘Tirupati laddu Prasadam’ or the sacred offering among devotees at 50 percent discount across Andhra Pradesh and in the State capitals of neighbouring States.

The laddu, weighing 175 gm, will be sold for Rs.25, against its actual price of Rs.50 in normal days.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the world’s richest Hindu temple, took the decision in view of the continuing uncertainty over resumption of darshan.

It has been two months since darshan was stopped for the devotees at the hill shrine in view of the lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.

TTD Trust Board Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy said that the laddu prasadam will be made available shortly at all TTD Kalyana Mandapams and information centres present in all the 13 district headquarters in Andhra Pradesh along with Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru. 

He said resuming of Srivari darshan to devotees depends on the Central Government’s decision to lift the lockdown. “We have been receiving e-mails and phones on when we would resume darshan. But it all depends on the Government’s decision of lifting lockdown,” he said.

Reddy said in spite of the lockdown restrictions, the devotees were generously contributing through e-Hundi and thus, expressing their immense devotion.

During April 2020, the e-Hundi collection stood at Rs.1.97 crore, an increase of Rs.18 lakh over the contribution made by devotees electronically during the same month last year.

Reddy said responding to devotees’ generous contributions to e-Hundi, TTD decided to resume laddu prasadam sale and offer 50 percent discount.

Devotees requiring bulk quantity shall have to contact the Srivari Temple Deputy EO on Mob: 98495-75952 and Potu Peishkar on Mob: 97010-92777 for their additional requirement whose delivery would be made at the TTD centres. The commencement of laddu sale by TTD will be decided in two or three days.