Nellore: Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy has announced that VIP break darshans of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala will continue, based on recommendation letters from MPs, MLAs and MLCs.
Speaking to the media, the minister confirmed that TTD would again start accepting special recommendation letters for darshan.
From May 15, VIP break darshan slots will be officially reinstated based on recommendation letters from elected representatives of AP and Telangana.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu conducted a review of the endowments department. The key directives from the meeting were shared in a press conference held at Minister Reddy’s residence here on Tuesday.
Speaking to the media, the minister highlighted the chief minister’s vision to ensure that all temple activities strictly adhere to traditional Agama Shastra principles. “The CM has made it clear that religious rituals must be conducted solely under the supervision of qualified Agama scholars, and not by government employees,” the minister stated.
Temples have now been categorized based on their annual income, with 22 high-revenue temples identified from a total of 169 in the 6A category for special attention.
The CM emphasized the installation of CCTV cameras in all such temples.
In a significant move to promote spiritual vibrancy, Naidu asked officials to ensure that every temple reflects its sacred atmosphere. Orders were also issued to maintain top-tier cleanliness, ensure smooth devotee movement, and avoid any administrative hindrances in temple premises.
One of the cornerstones of this overhaul is the expansion of the Anna Prasadam scheme, which provides free meals to devotees.
Currently operational in seven major temples, the scheme will soon be extended to 16 temples. The CM has called for the preparation of daily menus and strict adherence to hygiene during food preparation and distribution.
Special attention is being given to the development of the Srisailam Jyotirlinga temple, one of India’s most revered Shaivite pilgrimage centres.
Naidu has also called for improved infrastructure and crowd management at the temple.
A high-level meeting is also being planned to resolve ongoing land disputes between the forest and endowments departments in the region.
In addition to Shaivite temples, the government is committed to developing major Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temples, ensuring balanced support for both Shaivite and Vaishnavite religious heritage.