Margazhi Chaturthi draws huge devotee turnout at Tirumala
Tirumala experienced an extraordinary surge of devotees on Margazhi Chaturthi (December 18), as pilgrims gathered in large numbers for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara. Due to the heavy influx, devotees had to wait up to 20 hours for Sarva Darshan, with all 31 waiting halls at the Vaikuntham Queue Complex remaining completely full throughout the day.
According to official figures, 61,582 devotees had darshan on the auspicious day, while 19,757 devotees underwent tonsure. The Hundi collection reached ₹4.35 crore, highlighting the scale of the turnout.
The waiting time for ₹300 special darshan exceeded five hours, while devotees arriving via footpath routes waited for about two hours. Senior citizens and differently-abled devotees experienced waiting times of two to three hours under their respective darshan schedules.
With Tirumala continuing to witness heavy crowds, particularly on festival days and auspicious occasions, authorities have advised devotees to plan their visit in advance, as darshan and accommodation slots fill up quickly.
