he annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala attract lakhs of people every year, but it’s the dozens of the VIPs and the hundreds of hangers-on they bring with them that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is worried about. Just as the procession of festival deities is much looked forward to, the train of VIPs is much not.
This year, the Brahmotsavams will begin on September 16. Preparations of the colourful festival began a week ago.
Even though TTD officials are very practised in the art of handling VIPs – whose visits are an everyday feature at the Tirumala temple – the Brahmotsavams are another matter. VIPs flock to the temple town in droves during the nine-day Brahmotsavams. Most of them have made it the fashion in recent years to march alongside the deities in the twice-daily procession along the pilgrim-packed mada streets – with a large train of family members, retainers and protocol adherents behind them.
TTD officials and the presiding priests complain that the VIPs devotees’ distract attention away from the deities and hinder smooth movement of the processions, which are carefully choreographed events to the accompaniment of bhajan singers, dancers and cultural troupes and votive rituals. For police and security personnel, keeping an eye on the VIPs amidst the throng is a concern.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a TTD official said: “We are not averse to VIP s coming to the festival. What is problematic to us is their insistence to accompany the procession all the way through.This creates difficulties for the pilgrims.”
TTD Executive Officers in the past tried to have a viewing gallery set up exclusively for VIPs, so that they would not hinder the conduct of the procession. But it proved an abortive move.
TTD officials have found lesser VIPs harder to handle than VVIPs. For instance, the customary presentation of silk vastrams by the Chief Minister of the State was advanced to minimise the difficulties caused to the devout during the procession.
We are not averse to VIPs coming to the festival. What is problematic to us is their insistence to accompany the procession
- a TTD official
