Tirumala/Hyderabad, Dec 30 (UNI) The Vaikuntha Ekadashi festival was celebrated with deep devotion and grandeur at the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple on Tuesday, as thousands of devotees thronged the hill shrine to witness the auspicious Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan.
The Vaikuntha Dwara was opened at 12.05 a.m., following which devotees poured in large numbers through the northern entrance for darshan of the presiding deity. The sacred town was enveloped in a spiritual aura as chants and prayers echoed through the temple premises.
Several dignitaries and prominent personalities visited the temple on the occasion. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, accompanied by his family members, arrived at Tirumala early Tuesday and had darshan of Lord Venkateswara.
Temple officials accorded him traditional temple honours on arrival. After the darshan, the Chief Minister and his family performed special prayers, following which priests presented them with theertham and prasadam.
Film actor Nara Rohit along with his wife, union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, and Andhra Pradesh Minister Payyavula Keshav were among those who offered prayers at the hill shrine.
With the massive influx of devotees, temple authorities made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth darshan and adequate facilities. Tight security was maintained across Tirumala to regulate crowds and ensure the safety of pilgrims.
The spirit of Vaikunta Ekadashi was evident across both Telugu states, with major pilgrimage centres witnessing heavy footfall. In Telangana, temples at Yadadri, Bhadrachalam, Dharmapuri, and Chilkur Balaji saw a surge of devotees.
In Andhra Pradesh, large crowds were reported at Simhachalam, Dwaraka Tirumala, and several other temples.
Devotees have been arriving since the early hours, marking the festival with prayers, vows, and spiritual fervour.
Vaikuntha Ekadashi: Dignitaries, celebrities offer prayers at Tirumala
