Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Huge arrangements are being made for this year's Ratha Saptami celebrations in Tirumala. TTD officials are making all arrangements as there is a possibility of heavy rush of devotees during the Ratha Saptami festival on February 4. TTD EO Shyamala Rao, Additional EO Venkaiah Chowdary and District SP Harshavardhan Raju inspected the arrangements made at the temple.

  EO Shyamala Rao said the security measures will be further strengthened. EO Shyamala Rao announced that VIP Darshans have been cancelled in view of the rush of devotees and on February 3, 4 and 5, the issuance of Sarvadarshanam tokens has been cancelled.

He said that two lakh devotees are likely to come to witness the “Vahana Seva” on Ratha Saptami. He said the Lord will give darshan to the devotees on seven vehicles and that Chakrasnana Mahotsavam will be held at Pushkarani. Ratha Saptami celebrations will begin at 5:30 am with Suryaprabha Vahana Seva. They will end with Chandraprabha Vahana Seva at 9 pm, he said. TTD EO Shyamala Rao said annaprasadam will be distributed to the devotees waiting in the galleries on mada streets continuously.

Tight security arrangements are being made for Ratha Saptami. Security will be beefed up with an additional bandobast this year than in the past. Devotees will be allowed to enter the galleries to see the vehicle services. TTD EO Shyamala Rao said the focus is on crowd management and traffic control. SP Harshvardhan Raju said that tight security arrangements are being made for the devotees coming to see the vehicle services without any difficulty.