The ten-day Vaikuntha Dwara Darshanam at Tirumala concluded on a grand and peaceful note, drawing a record number of devotees to the hill shrine. From December 30 to January 8, as many as 7.83 lakh devotees had darshan of Lord Venkateswara, marking the highest turnout in the history of the annual event, according to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

Addressing the media at Annamayya Bhavan in Tirumala on Friday, TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu said the festival was conducted smoothly with meticulous planning and overwhelming public satisfaction. He noted that 93 percent of devotees expressed complete satisfaction with the arrangements made by TTD during the ten-day period.

The footfall this year marked a sharp rise compared to previous years. In 2024, about 6.83 lakh devotees attended the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan, while the figure stood at 6.47 lakh in 2023. The surge, officials said, reflected improved crowd management and enhanced facilities.

During the ten days, Rs 41 crore was received through the Srivari Hundi, underlining the scale of pilgrim participation. TTD also recorded record laddu sales of 44 lakh, an increase of nearly 10 lakh laddus compared to last year. Distribution of annaprasadam  rose by 27 percent, indicating a significant expansion in seva services.

Naidu attributed the success to real-time monitoring of queue lines through an AI-enabled Command and Control Room, which helped regulate crowd flow efficiently and reduce waiting times. Facilities such as Kalyanakatta services, sanitation, drinking water, and medical support played a crucial role in ensuring devotee comfort, he said.

The Chairman also highlighted the temple’s festive grandeur, noting that the shrine was adorned with 50 tonnes of traditional flowers and 10 tonnes of fruits, creating a visually striking and spiritually uplifting atmosphere throughout the celebrations.

Expressing gratitude, Naidu said, “I sincerely thank the devotees for their cooperation and patience, and I deeply appreciate the relentless efforts of officers, employees, and volunteers who worked round the clock to make the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan a peaceful and historic success.”

TTD officials said the record turnout and positive feedback reaffirm Tirumala’s ability to manage large-scale pilgrimages through planning, technology, and coordinated service delivery.