TIRUPATI: Nearly eight months since the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala re-opened its doors for devotees — after being closed for two-and-a-half months due to Covid-19 — the hill town is once again witnessing serpentine queues. This is also signifying a sharp rise in income from ‘Srivari Hundi’.
When the hill shrine was reopened for pilgrims on June 11 last, TTD had allowed 6,000 people for darshan. However, the temple gradually increased the darshan quota which now stood at 50,000 a day. This is roughly more than 60 per cent of pre-Covid devotee turnout.
Curiously, despite a low pilgrim footfall and the Covid-19 induced financial stress, the hundi collection is registering a steady increase. Devotees are generously offering Kanukas (cash) in the ‘Srivari Hundi’.
The hundi income was relatively high in the last one month as compared to the collections in the corresponding period last year. According to official statistics, the daily hundi collections used…