Indian Science Congress delegates dabble between science,faith

Science and faith went hand-in-hand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, student delegates and scientists attending the Indian Science Congress (ISC) here when many of them took a break from the event to seek the blessings of Lord Balaji.
Apart from students, senior scientists and bureaucrats, Andhra Pradesh chief N Chandrababu Naidu, Union minister Harsh Vardhan and his deputy Y S Chowdary also visited the hill shrine to seek the blessings of Sri Venkateswara.
The Indian Science Congress Association had made special provisions so that delegates could visit Tirumala hill, the temple of Lord Balaji, also known as Sri Venkateswara.
Over 4000 delegates are expected to visit the temple by the time the ISC ends.

According to Suresh Reddy, convenor of the special desk formed to arrange a trip to Tirumala in association with the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams (TTD), there were 1,026 VIP bookings have been made for special darshan of the Lord Balaji between January 3 and 7.
Around 12,000 delegates are attending the yearly science carnival.

"A VIP booking costs Rs 500 while a normal booking costs Rs 300. By tomorrow, some 3,300 people are expected to visit the temple under normal bookings category. However, the number could be much more as several delegates have made their own arrangements to visit the shrine," Reddy, a chemistry professor at the Sri Venkatestwara University where the ISC is being held.

Reddy, who was barely able to keep his cool due to large number of queries and making arrangements for darshan for VIP guests, said "I have forgotten my chemistry over the last four days".
The TTD also made special provisions for darshan for the ISC delegates.
Unlike other pilgrims, who get only three ladoos if they buy a Rs 300 ticket, norm was relaxed for ISC delegates who are getting an additional ladoo.
Apart from it, Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Service (APRTC) is offering free bus ride to delegates from the university to bus station that takes pilgrims further up to the temple.

"The TTD also made provisions of opening a counter that offers Balaji calendars and dairies. Getting Balaji diaries and calendars is so difficult that by February Rs 75 calender costs Rs 500 in black," Reddy added.
However, there were delegates who preferred to take an arduous route to the temple by climbing up the hill.
22-year-old Mayur Darade, a student of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth in Ahmednagar in Maharashtra and his classmates have decided to climb up the hill.
"The respect and feeling you get when one climbs up the hill is different," said Darade.
"Pilgrims climbing up the hill get one ladoo free. Plus, they can buy more ladoos, something one can not do if they buy a ticket and take darshan. The ladoo is pricessless," said Mangesh Garad, Darade's classmate.