The monthly hour-long Dial your EO call in programme held at Annamaiah Bhavan in Tirumala on Saturday. EO KS Jawahar Reddy responded to the queries of 26 callers from different parts of the country.
Answering the callers Smt Sridevi from Tirupati, Sri Srinivasacharyulu from Hyderabad, Smt Neeraja from Chennai, when appreciated the spiritual programmes of TTD on SVBC and continue to organise similar programmes even during Dhanurmasam which commence from December 16 onwards, the EO said, TTD has already planned a series of spiritual programmes during the auspicious month of Dhanurmasam also.
The EO said, as Gita Jayanthi is coinciding with Vaikuntha Ekadasi, TTD has planned a three-hour recitation of Gita Parayanam on Nada Neerajanam in Tirumala on the same day.
When a caller from Chennai, Sri Prem sought EO to ban plastic usage in Tirumala and also to erect Harinama boards all around Tirumala, the EO said, TTD has already declared Tirumala a Plastic free zone and completely banned the usage of plastic bottles and bags to carry laddus. “We have already given an order to five lakh cloth bags and corn starch bags as a replacement for laddu covers. Regarding spiritual boards, there are some already existing at different points in Tirumala and we will try to increase their numbers”, he added.
Dr Narasimha Rao from Prakasam sought EO to set up a Gosala towards the protect of stray cows in every district to which the EO answered that TTD Board has already resolved to donate a Cow and Calf to every temple in the states of AP, TS, TN and Karnataka in the name “Gudiko Gomata”. We have already set up a massive Cow protection centre at Palamaner in Chittoor district. If the like minded philanthropists come forward, TTD would definitely enhance the programme”, he maintained.
When a caller Smt Vanaja from Bengaluru expressed her doubt whether TTD could provide Vaikuntha Dwara Darsanam for ten days, to which EO replied, TTD has taken this decision after taking the consent of Peethadhipathis, Agama experts, scholars and it is both spiritually and scientifically is also safe for the devotees.
On the queries of allowing pilgrims who crossed 65years and below 10years for darshan, TTD EO clarified that “As per the Central Government COVID guidelines, the people who are aged below 10years and above 65years are still advised to stay at home for some more time although the intensity of Covid cases have decreased in the country. But since we are getting many requests from devotees to redeem long pending vows of tonsuring, ear piercing, Annaprasana for infants and children while Shashtipurti, seventy and eighty year fetes at the abode of Lord Venkateswara, we said such devotees shall come to Tirumala at their own risk and cost following all Covid guidelines and taking necessary precautions.
When Sri Rama Krishna from Kurnool sought EO on Vaikuntha Ekadasi Dwara darshanam, he said, we have already released two lakh Rs.300 darshan in on-line on December 11 and the entire quota got booked by 5pm itself and we will also release some off-line tickets soon”, he added.
JEO for Health and Education Smt Sada Bhargavi, CE Sri M Ramesh Reddy, GM IT Sri Sesha Reddy, Additional CVSO Sri Venkata Siva Reddy and other senior officers were also present.