Hyderabad : In view of full moon eclipse on July 17, TTD has made some arrangements as the temple remains closed for nearly ten hours and the available darshan time is very less for pilgrims and on the other hand Annaprasadam also remains closed.
TTD has cancelled issuance of Divya Darshanam and Slotted Sarva Darshanam tokens to the pilgrims on July 16.
According to the TTD almanac, the lunar eclipse falls between 1.31am and lasts upto 4.29am on July 17. But since it is a tradition to close the Tirumala temple six hours prior to eclipse, the temple remains closed from 7pm of July 16 till 5am of July 17. To avoid any inconvenience to the multitude of visiting pilgrims, TTD has taken the decision to cancel the DD and SSD tokens on July 16 as the temple remains opens only for five hours on that day between 12 noon to 5pm following eclipse.
Following the rush, devotees will be allowed to enter into the VQC compartments on the midnight of July 15 and will be allowed for darshan from 12 noon till 5pm of July 16. Both the vaikuntham queue complexes will also be kept empty after 5pm as Annaprasadam will also be not served on that day following eclipse and temple doors closes at 7pm on July 16. On July 17, when the temple door opens at 5am after the Grahanam, rituals like suddhi, punyahavachanam are performed while Suprabhatam, Tomala, Archana and Koluvu will be performed in Ekantam. The devotees will be allowed to enter VQC compartments only from 5am onwards on July 17.
TTD has cancelled Pournami Garuda Seva on July 16 following Lunar Eclipse. Kalyanotsavam, Unjal Seva, Arjitha Brahmotsavam, Vasanthotsavam and Sahasra Deepalankara Sevas have also been cancelled in connection with Anivara Asthanam on July 17. The Sarva Darshanam commences only from 12noon onwards as Asthanam is observed inside temple. In the evening Pushpa Pallaki will be observed.
ANNAPRASADAM
In view of the Grahanam, Annaprasadam will not be prepared and served at the food courts, MTVAC, PAC canteen, Employees Canteen, SVGH canteen etc. in Tirumala from 7pm of July 16 till 9am July 17 at Tirumala. However 20 thousand food packets will be distributed to pilgrims from 3pm till 7pm on July 16 at Nadaneerajanam platform, Vaibhavotsava Mandapam, SV Museum areas.(NSS)
