Tirumala: “A strong conviction, goal, zeal, and devotion of administrators will help in the development of the administration of temples”, asserted TTD EO AV Dharma Reddy.
He was addressing a galaxy of administrators belonging to various Hindu temples from over 30 countries during the three-day Maha Kumbh of Temples-International Temples Convention and Expo held at Rudraksh Convention Centre in Varanasi, which commenced on Saturday.
The power-point presentation on the wide range of socio-religious activities besides the millions of pilgrim footfalls to the famed Hill shrine of Tirumala by TTD EO in a befitting manner caught the attention of over 1600 Hindu temple administrators across the world.
Initially, an impressive Audio-Visual lasting for about half an hour was played covering all the activities of TTD including darshan, Temples, education, health, Annaprasadam, tonsuring, Srivari Seva, ancient learning vedic studies, fine arts institutions, series of religious activities for Dharmic promotion, Vigilance, and Security, forests, gardens, energy consumption, plastic-free measures, etc.
Later the EO explained in detail for an hour about the various darshan patterns which included 60% on a free basis for the common pilgrims, Annaprasadam, Jalaprasadam, tonsuring, accommodation, educational institutions including special courses like fine arts, Vedic education, sculpture college, Balamandir, etc., about 1600 operations including four Open Heart Surgeries successfully performed on infants and children in Sri Padmavathi Children’s Heart Centre, SVIMS, BIRRD hospitals, Aswini-Apollo Cardiac in Tirumala, about SVBC, Gosala and related Gosamrakshana programmes, Go Adharita Naivedyam, Dry flower technology, new initiatives including introduction of eco-friendly buses to transport pilgrims, paperless administration with advance IT initiatives etc. in an elaborated manner amidst the huge round of applause from the audience.
Adding further the EO said “A temple is not just a place of worship but is a Centre for education, health, Vedic studies, spiritual activities, Annadanam, and many more. When these kinds of holistic things are done by the temples, people visit in large numbers”.
Elaborating further the EO added, “We have 66 departments with a strong and dedicated workforce of nearly 24,500 including 7000 regular employees.
“Introduction of new infrastructure adopting latest technology has enabled us to meet the ever-increasing demand from the pilgrims according to the time and today we are providing hassle-free darshan to over 80 thousand to 90 thousand pilgrims on a day, producing nearly 3.5 lakh laddus every day and providing Annaprasadam to nearly 2lakh pilgrims per day in all our centres. The entire TTD administration is paperless and everything is computerized with absolute transparency.
The EO also explained in detail about Srinivasa Kalyanams and Venkateswara Vaibhavotsavams, the Gudiko Gomata program, the commencement of Parayanams with Visuchika Maha Mantram ever since the erupt of Covid pandemic, and how they have won global devout attention, Anjanadri-Akasaganga-Lord Hanuman Birth Place, temples constructed under the funds from SRIVANI Trust and how the menace of middlemen is weeded out with the introduction of SRIVANI providing one time VIP break darshan privilege to the donor, Srivari Seva Voluntary Service, etc.
Concluding his hour-long speech the EO said “Efficient management techniques by the successive administrators always helped TTD to give the best facilities to its pilgrims. If the basic amenities like food, sanitation, spirituality, and ambiance are provided in a healthy environment, then automatically devotees visit that temple, and hence today TTD has set a role model to other temple managements in pilgrim-friendly measures, he affirmed.
Earlier, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Sri Mohan Bhagat in his speech lauded TTD for taking up the construction of new temples in backward areas and renovation of dilapidated temples in a big way under the funds of SRIVANI Trust and pouring in laurels on various other TTD spiritual and social activities.
Later Prasad Minesh Lad, Chairman of the convention, and Girish Kulkarni, Founder of the Temples’ Connect felicitated the TTD EO AV Dharma Reddy with a shawl and a memento.
