Tirumala, January 31, 2024 – In a significant step towards promoting Sanatana Hindu Dharma Prachara, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Trust Board has decided to produce and sell Mangala Sutras, symbolic of marital bliss, to devotees visiting the sacred Tirumala temple.
Weighing 5 grams and 10 grams, these intricately crafted Mangala Sutras will be offered to devotees along with divine blessings, aiming to enhance the prosperity of their married lives.
The decision to incorporate the sale of Mangala Sutras was finalized during the TTD Board meeting held at Annamayya Bhavan in Tirumala. The board also approved a comprehensive budget of Rs 5,141.74 crore for the fiscal year 2024-25.
TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy expressed that the introduction of Mangala Sutras, blessed by Lord Venkateswara Swamy, is a gesture to strengthen the sacred bonds of matrimony among the devotees. These Mangala Sutras will be crafted in 5 grams and 10 grams, featuring four or five designs, and will be offered to devotees on a cost-to-cost basis.
As part of this initiative, the TTD Trust Board also decided to create Lakshmi Kasulu. Bhumana Karunakar Reddy emphasized the importance of preserving the sanctity of the Hindu marriage system, stating that this endeavor aligns with the commitment to uphold traditional values.
Anticipating a Hundi collection of Rs 1,611 crore during the financial year 2024-25, along with other sources of income such as interest on deposits, sale of Prasads, and revenue from Darshan tickets, the TTD budget allocation indicates a substantial portion dedicated to human resources payments, demonstrating the TTD’s commitment to its workforce.
Furthermore, the TTD board approved the enhancement of wages for individuals employed under contract and outsourcing arrangements across various departments. The meeting also sanctioned the transformation of the ring road in Tirumala into a four-lane road to address traffic challenges.
Since the state’s bifurcation, TTD has taken progressive steps, including the establishment of an exclusive superspecialty hospital for children in Tirupati, now renamed Sri Padmavathi Institute of Child Health.
