TIRUMALA: For the first time in the Tirumala temple's history the waiting time for pilgrims in the general queue lines for darshan has touched a staggering 122 hours. A pilgrim opting for a free-darshan sudarshan token at 5.00 p.m., on Friday will get his turn at 7.00 p.m., on October 12, 2005 the concluding day of the ongoing annual `brahmotsavams'. Officials attributed the reasons for the long wait to the 10-day Dasara holidays and the current `puratasi' month, considered auspicious for Tamils. Also, the most important event of the `brahmotsavams' — the `garuda seva' falls on Saturday, again considered auspicious to worship the presiding deity. Those preferring Rs. 50 special entry darshan tickets will have to wait for around 62 hours.
The unprecedented rush has led to heated verbal duels between the pilgrims and the TTD staff manning various cottage allotment counters. With no vacancies being registered, TTD staff were also helpless.
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