Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh): The famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh is gearing up to lift its over two-month-long COVID-19 lockdown ban on devotees' entry, as it will conduct rehearsals of darshan for its staff for two or three days from June 8 with strict protective measures.
"Very strictly observing all COVID-19 precautionary measures, including maintaining six feet distance from person to person, a few hundred temple staff, TTD board members and other officials attached to the shrine will be permitted into the shrine for two or three days," Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Board Chairman Y V Subba Reddy told reporters.
As part of it, elaborate COVID-19 safety arrangements were being made on the entire hills and inside the huge temple complex too, he said.
Once temple officials were satisfied with the trial runs, devotees would be allowed entry to the sacred hills, the TTD chairman said, adding that online tickets would be immediately made available for purchase.
Those who arrive unknowingly without such tickets will have to register their personal details with official proof at the entrance of the Hills, called 'Alipiri', and accordingly, they would be given time-slot free darshan slips, he said.