Entry at Tirupati Temple banned for 6 days in August Over Vedic Ritual
Tirupati : The Lord Venkateswara temple will remain shut for six days in view of 'Astabandhana Balalaya Mahasamprokshanam', a "vedic ritual" conducted once in 12 years to undertake minor repairs at the temple premises.
As part of the repair process, the high priest of the temple would use a paste made of several herbs, believed to be harder than concrete. The entire process is done amid chanting of vedic hymns, reported Press Trust of India quoting officials.
"Pilgrims will not be allowed to enter Vaikuntham Queue Complex for darshan after 6 pm of August 9. The darshan will resume to pilgrims only after 6 am from August 17 onwards. We therefore request the pilgrim devotees of Lord Venkateswara present across the globe to plan their pilgrimage accordingly", a press release by the TTD board said.
The Tirupati temple is located in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is believed that the temple is approximately 5000 years old. It is also famous for costly donations it receives.
According to TTD officials, the temple's earnings during 2018-19 are expected to be Rs. 2,894 crore, of which the offerings in temple 'Hundi' are likely to be Rs. 1,156 crore.