Vaikunta Ekadasi Festival at Tirumala begins today amid Covid-19 restrictions. All you need to know

The authorities have repeatedly appealed to visitors from other places to not come in case they don’t have advanced tickets.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams begins a 10-day Vaikunta dwara darshan for devotees from today. Amid concerns over the new strain of Covid-19 virus, social-distancing guidelines will be maintained strictly, the authorities have said. The festival will continue till January 3.

Priests perform Chakrasnanam of the deity in the newly built Pushkarini inside the Srivari temple in October. (File photo) (PTI)

Here is all you need to know:

1. Only 35,000 devotees will be allowed per day.

2. The authorities have issued two lakh tickers of ₹300 special entry darshan.

3. Only those who have booked tickets in advance are allowed during the festival.

4. For locals, there will be 10,000 offline sarva darshan tokens being issued every day till January 3.

5. The authorities have repeatedly appealed to visitors from other places to not come in case they don’t have advanced tickets. Some pilgrims, who were not allowed darshan as they didn’t have tickets, have been protesting at various places in Tirupati

6. After lockdown, the temple opened its doors for daily Srivari Darshan from June 8 allowing only 5,000 devotees. Now, the number has gone up to 35,000 in a staggered manner.

8. Locals will have to bring Aadhaar cards to get sarva darshan tokens.