TIRUMALA TIRUPATI NEWS MAY 2011

TTD EO BEGINS THE TRIAL RUN OF 'MOVING PLATFORM' AT ALIPIRI SRIVARU TEMPLE

Tirupati, 05 May 2011(P.R.O) As a first step of development over the proposed idea of "Moving Platform" which came out during the proceedings of the two day national seminar held by TTD on November 20 and 21 last on "Perspectives of Darshan", the TTD EO has commenced the trial run of the "Moving Platform" at the Srivari temple in Alipiri on Thursday.

Later addressing the media persons, the EO said this idea was mulled by TTD to provide a hassle free darshan to the visiting pilgrims who often complain about the twinkling of an eye darshan of Lord inspite of waiting for long hours. "With this new mechanised system, the pilgrim can have a peaceful glance of Lord for nearly 20 seconds. We will go for trial run in this temple by allowing pilgirms for about a month, before it is being introduced in the main temple", the EO added.

However he said, the moving platform which was launched now is only a proto-type and after thoroughly studying the pros and cons, then only it will be introduced in hill shrine. The EO said since it is a temporary and portable mechanism, there will not be hurdle to perform sevas to Lord also and hence there will not be any violation or deviation to agamas and to temple rituals. "This can be removed and erected as and when we require. But we can organise only Mahalaghu darshan with this moving platform. We are still studying and yet to arrive at a point that how we could alight and pickup the pilgrims and to how many pilgrims we can provide darshan in one hour using this mechanism. This will be soon finalised", he maintained.

Meanwhile briefing about the techical aspect of the moving platform, the Managing Director of BNA Technologies Consulting Limited from Bangalore, Sri V.Ranganathan said, the size of the platform is 3.5ft in width and 5ft in length and has a capacity to carry 12 persons at a single go. "It moves with a speed of 2mph and operates with in the 23/17feet area inside sanctum sanctorum (from Garudalwar to statues of Jaya-Vijaya). The speed is adjustible as per our requirement", he added.

Later the EO, CVSO Sri MK Singh, Vedic Varsity VC Sri S.Sudarshana Sharma, SE-II Sri Ramesh Reddy, vigilance officers Sri Venkataratnam and Sri Manohar went on a trial run in the moving platfrom and had darshan of Lord Venkateswara at Alipiri temple.

Tirupati, May 07, 2011TTD EO INAUGURATES TTD BOOK STALLS AT SRINIVASAM AND RAILWAY STATION

Tirupati, 07 May 2011(P.R.O) The TTD EO Sri IYR Krishna Rao has inaugurated TTD book stalls at Srinivasam Complex and Railway station in Tirupati on Saturday and said that the management of TTD is eyeing to enhance its sales of publications across the country soon.

After inaugurating the TTD sales wing at Srinivasam complex the EO said, TTD has been publishing rare, great works since several years. "These works need to be promoted across the country and for that we need to enhance our sales. We will be soon starting our stalls at Kanyakumari, Chennai and Bangalore tying up with famous book centres like Vivekananda Kendra and Sri Ramakrishna Mission. We have already started our work in that direction and began a stall recently at Hyderabad", he added.

Tirupati JEO Dr.N.Yuvraj and other TTD officials were also present.

Tirupati, May 07, 2011 TTD EO INAUGURATES "BREAST SCREENING CAMP" FOR TTD WOMEN EMPLOYEES AT CENTRAL HOSPITAL

Tirupati, 07 May 2011(P.R.O) The TTD EO Sri IYR Krishna Rao has inaugurated "Breast Screening Camp" for women employees of TTD jointly organised by TTD Central hospital and SVIMS onchology department at Central hospital in Tirupati on Saturday.

Addressing the awareness camp he said, it is alarming to note that the intensity of breast cancer cases among women has considerably increased in the last five years. "This is because of negligence due to lack of proper awareness about the hazards of the dreadful disease among majority of women", he observed.

"In TTD almost 50% of our employees are women and hence we thought of commencing the awareness camp from TTD itself as we are more concern about their health. According to some recent survey, only 3% of screening is being done in India while 65% is being carried out in countries like Japan, Korea, Singapore etc. So we have henceforth decided to organise screening camps at regular intervals for the sake of our women employees in TTD central hospital", he added.

In her address, the director of SVIMS Dr.Vengamma said such camps should be organised at regular intervals for women to create awareness among them about breast cancer. "Usually as and when a girl reach the age of 20, she should start self-breast examination and try the same at least once every week. After reaching the age of 40, a woman should go Mammography test and should under go this test once in a year thereafter without fail as this is the age where majority of

women are prone to breast cancer", she said. Further she added saying that once the breast tumours are detected in first or second stage they can be curable otherwise it becomes hazardous.

Later the Head of the Department of Onchology in SVIMS Dr.Kannan said, there is an urgent need to create vigorous awareness among the women about the dreadful breast cancer in India. "While in the countries like Japan, Singapore, Korea the percentage of screening tests is 65%, it is only 3% in India. Interestingly in India cervical cancer is on decline while the breast cancer is alarmingly increasing. To change this situation it requires vigorous awareness. It is infact alarming to note that Andhra Pradesh occupies fourth place in breast cancer after UP, Maharastra and Bihar", he added.

In his power point presentation, the Associate professor of Surgical Onchology from SVIMS Dr.YK Siva Kumar Reddy clearly explained about the reasons and factors leading to this disease and precautions to be taken to prevent the disease before it could engulf the human life.

The meeting was also attended by Tirupati JEO Dr.N.Yuvraj and presided over by Chief Medical Officer of TTD, Dr. Prabhakar while the vote of thanks has been delivered by Superintended of TTD central hospital Dr. Sri Rama Murthy. A fraternity of doctors from TTD and SVIMS, nursing staff and women employees of TTD took part in the programme. Later screening has been performed to over 150 employees.

Tirumala, May 11, 2011GLITTERING START TO PADMAVATHI PARINAYOTSAVAM IN TIRUMALA

Tirumala, 11 May 2011(P.R.O) The three-day annual "Salakatla Padmavathi Parinayotsavam" began on a dazzling note at Tirumala on Wednesday evening.

Earlier the processional deity of Lord Malayappa Swamy decked on a beautifully decorated Gaja Vahanam was taken on ride along the mada streets to the Narayanagiri Gardens while His consorts followed Him on palanquin to the Padmavathi Parinayotsavam site. The priests conducted special rituals to the processional deities in the artistically decorated Narayanagiri Gardens. The processional deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy will take celestial ride Ashwa and Garuda Vahanams on the remaining two consecutive days.

Meanwhile Narayanagiri gardens were specially spruced up befitting the occasion. Huge cutouts made of various mythological illumination themes, gorgeous pandals and floral arches glorified the beauty of the massive gardens.

The TTD’s Dharma Prachara Parishad and Annamacharya Project jointly organised special cultural programmes for the devotees on the occasion. Apart from the celestial wedding of the processinal deities, the fire crackers which illuminated the sky added a grandeur look to this colourful festival and enchanted the pilgrims providing a great feast to thousands of eyes who converged to see the divine splendour.

Meanwhile the temple administration of TTD has cancelled arjitha sevas like Arjitha Brahmotsavam, Vasanthotsavam and Sahasra Deeplanakara Seva on these three days in view of this festival. TTD top brass authorities took part in this festival.

ri I.Y.R.Krishna Rao, Executive Officer, Sri Srinivasa Raju, Joint Executive Offier, Sri M.K.Singh, C.V.&S.O Sri Munirathnam Reddy, Temple DyE.O, Sri Chandrasekhar Pillai, Peishkar and devotees took part.

Tirumala, May 13, 2011Procession of Kalyanamasthu Mangalasuthrams at Tirumala Tirumala, 13 May 2011(P.R.O) This is more than a life time golden opportunity for the couple who enter the wed-lock in the sixth phase of Kalyanamastu which is slated to take place across the state on May 20, as the ornaments including talibotlu and mettelu which are offered to the bride by TTD have been sanctified on Friday as they were placed at the feet of the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara for his divine blessings.

Earlier in the day, the TTD Executive Officer Sri IYR Krishna Rao carried the sare (talibotlu and mettelu) in a plate over his head in a traditional manner amidst the chanting of vedic hymns by temple priests from Bedi Anjaneyaswamy temple to Tirumala shrine where special puja has been performed inside sanctum sanctorum to the ornaments.

Later addressing media persons at Tirumala Asthana Mandapam, TTD EO said, " The ornaments have been formally kept at the feet of Lord for his blessings and they will be distributed to the respective districts as per their requirement. So far 5500 couples have registered their names. We are confident that this number will cross 15thousand mark this time as we have few more days left for the free mass marriage to take place. However, we have decided 5pm of 18th May as the last date of registration process. If the number exceeds 20thousand mark, we cannot accommodate them in this phase of Kalyanamastu. So we put this time limit. But based on the final figures, we think of extending the date of registration even on 19th and 20th May morning before the wedding muhurat commences", he added.

Tirumala Joint EO Sri KS Srinivasa Raju, CVSO Sri MK Singh, HDPP Secretary Sri K.Venkat Reddy, Tirupati Urban SP Sri Ravinder, Kalyanamastu OSD Sri and TTD Transport GM Sri Sesha Reddy and others were also present.

Hyderabad, May 20, 20116th PHASE OF KALYANAMASTHU HELD AT LALITHA KALA THORANAM

Hyderabad, 20 May 2011(P.R.O) Chief Minister Sri N. Kiran Kumar Reddy today said the TTD has been rendering yeomen service to the society not only in education and health sector but also in addressing the social needs of the poor like mass weddings etc.

Participating in the sixth phase of the Kalyanamastu event at the Sprawling Lalita Kala Toranam open air auditorium this morning the Chief Minister said the free mass wedding program addressed the social needs of the society to organize debt free weddings.

The sixth phase of Kalyanotsavam was performed at the Karkataka lagnam and at the auspicious muhurtam of 09.52 to 10.04 hours today.

Earlier he blessed 170 couple who were wedded to the rendering of vedic chants by a team of priests who had specially come from Tirupati for the occasion. He lauded the officials of the

TTD and the Hyderabad District administration for their efforts in organizing the event without any hiccups and satisfying the couple and their guests.

The Executive Officer of the TTD Sri I Y R Krishna Rao said the TTD would spent approximately Rs.7000 on each of the couple in providing them a pair of wedding apparel, mangala sutram, wedding silver toe rings besides wedding feast for sixty guests for each couple.

He said the newly wedded couple would be provided darshan of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala and also transport and accommodation at fifty percent concession to Tirumala. He said in all 12,000 weddings were conducted in this phase all over the state bringing the total of Kalyanamastu to 46,000 weddings since inception.

The certificate of wedding was presented to each of the couple by the EO and Sri.K.Venkat Reddy, president of Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad. They were also presented the certificate of the marriage registrar through the office of the Hyderabad Collector on the spot.

The TTD has specially brought the Utsava idols from the Srivari Temple of Tirumala for the event along with priests to conduct the Kalyanamastu besides team of Nadaswaram and Annamacharya singers from Tirupati.

Hyderabad, May 20, 2011TTD SA CHAIRMAN INAUGURATES FREE BUSES AT TIRUMALA

Tirumala, 26 May 2011(P.R.O) The TTD Speciefied Authority Chairman Sri J.Satyanarayana has inaugurated four free buses for the sake of pilgrim transportation to various destinations within Tirumala on Thursday evening at Rambhageecha Parking area in Tirumala.

Speaking ont his occasion the SA Chief Sri Satyanarayana said, that with the entry of these four new buses the frequency will be improved to 4 minutes from the existing 6 minutes. "Earlier pilgrims transportation to their desired destinations used to take place in 200 trips while it has been enhanced to 300 trips henceforth. The free bus facility will make the Tirumala trip more convenient to the pilgrim", he added.

Earlier the 8 buses used to operate 200 trips a day carrying 30000 pilgrims a day. But with the introduction of more buses to the existing fleet of 8, approximately 45thousand pilgrims could be transported on any given day. The route course will begin at CRO-GNC-HVC-SNC-CRO-Lepakshi-SMC-TBC-MBC-SVGH-NGGH-VQC II- Museum-MMT-VSGH-PPV Tollgate-RBGH-KKC-CRO.

TD EO Sri IYR Krishna Rao, TTD Transport GM Sri Sesha Reddy and other officials were also present.

Tirumala, May 26, 2011SPECIFIED AUTHORITY MEET Tirumala, 26 May 2011(P.R.O) The TTD Specified Authority (SA) which held the meeting at Tirumala Annamaiah Bhavan on Thursday under the chairmanship of Sri.J.Satyanarayana and its members, TTD Executive Officer Sri IYR Krishna Rao and Sri Nagi Reddy discussed and reviewed upon some important agenda items and came out with some important resolutions. Some of the important resolutions are as follows:

1) The proposed repair works of 5000 rooms at an estimated expenditure of Rs.34cr at Tirumala by SA are expected to complete in the month of September before the commencement of the annual festival of Brahmotsavams. The SA Chief said, the works have been catergorised as extensive repair works and ordinary repair works which falls under I and II categories respectively and the priority of works will be taken like-wise.

2) The other important engineering works including the second ghat road repair works at an estimated budget of Rs.6cr, New Annadanam Complex, Kumaradhara and Pasupudhara projects are almost under completion and will be completed in next few weeks.

3) As per the recommendations of Anajaneya Committee report, the SA has also taken a decision to minimise estabilishment expenditure and strictly follow that it will not exceed 25%.(At present TTD's expenditure is over 29%. The total budget of TTD is 1236cr and budget towards salaries including those of employees, outsourcing and pensioners is 369cr) To minimise the expenditure, a high level committee has also been appointed. Any new posts creation in future will also be as per the recommendations of the committee.

4) The SA has approved the plan of the proposed "Divya Bharati" project which will come up in the 29.5acres of land which was acquired by TTD from Tourism department near Alipiri.

5) As a part of stregthening the security set up, the SA has approved for the installation of Under Vehicle Surveillance Systems(UVSS) at a cost of Rs.1.36cr which will be installed at three counters in Alipiri. The SA has also given green signal to fill up the 210 security guard posts through police recruitment board.

6) To provide Vedic studies in a more transparent and disciplined environment, the SA has constituted a high level committee headed by Joint EO Tirumala, Sri KS Srinivasa Raju which will study the infrastructure draw backs, precautions to be taken at entry level recruitment of students, to enhance continuous supervision for a proper system of imparting vedic education. The committee will submit the report in next six weeks. Apart from Dharmagiri Veda pathashala, the committee also study the situation in Keesaragutta Veda school and other upcoming vedic schools.

7) The SA has given its not to construct a new dormitary at SVIMS for the attendents of the patients.

8) To speed up the engineering works, the SA following the suggestions made by retired chief engineer Sri Kondal Rao has decided to delegate the powers to lower staff.

Tirumala, May 28, 2011SRIVARI SEVAKS SHOULD DO MORE COMMITTED SERVICE-TTD EO

Tirumala, 28 May 2011(P.R.O) Complimenting the Srivari Sevaks for their commendable voluntary services to the visiting pilgrims in Tirumala, the TTD EO Sri IYR Krishna Rao felt that the services of srivari sevaks should enhance to further heights so that their services could be better utilised by TTD in various other areas where pilgrims interface is more.

Addressing the All India Srivari Seva leaders meet at Tirumala Srivari Seva Sadan on Saturday, the EO said, "the srivari sevaks have been rendering their services from the past one decade with the motto "Service to Mankind is Service to God". But in order to bring more transparency, disciplene, enhance their efficiency and strengthen srivari seva, the EO said TTD is henceforth contemplating to wind up the darshan and subsidy laddu facilities to the sevaks. "By this act, we could be able to draw true sevaks with true spirit of seva concept, with whom we can extend their sincere and selfless services even in the core areas of TTD also", he added.

Following the suggestions made by few leaders, the EO directed the Tirumala Joint EO Sri KS Srinivasa Raju to discuss in elaboarate with other officials and design a dress code to the srivari sevaks. "Their services should be utilised in the Rs.50, Rs.300, free darshan and general darshan queue lines in a better way rather than allotting them Kalyanotsavam or Ekantha Seva duties", EO pointed. He directed the TTD officials to better use their services where pilgrim interface is more.

The EO instructed the ACVSO Sri Sivakumar Reddy to enhance the security for seva sadan and directed the special grade deputy eo reception sri Lakshmi Kantham to provide better and hygenic accommodation facilities at Madhavam to srivari sevaks. (usually during peak seasons and on festive days where the srivari sevaks influx is more than 1000, additional accommodation will be provided to them at Madhavam).

Reacting immediately to the suggestion made by one of the sevaks, the EO directed the officials to set up a mobile health clinic at ATC parking area for the sake of pilgrims in the case of emergency.

About 300 sevak leaders hailing from Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharastra, Orissa, Jharkand, West Bengal apart from Andhra Pradesh took part in this meeting.

Tirumala, May 30, 2011

CHIEF MINISTER OF ANDHRA PRADESH WORSHIPPED LORD VENKATESWARA

Tirumala, 30 May 2011(P.R.O) Hon'ble Chief Minister of A.P Sri Kiran Kumar Reddyvisited Sri Vari Temple, Tirumala on Monday morning. On his arrival at Sri Vari Temple, the priests and officials have welcomed the Hon'ble Chief Minister with Temple honors ( ISTHIPAKAL) and led to sanctum sanctorium. After dharshan of lord, H.H.Sri Sri Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swamy and the Chairman,Specified Authority TTDs Sri J.Sathyanarayana has presented Sri Vari Prasadam & the veda pandits of the temple have blessed him with Vedic Hymns at Ranganayakula Mandapam.

Sri I.Y.R.Krishna Roa, Executive Officer, Sri K.S.Srinivas Raju, Joint Executive Officer and others were present.