Over one lakh throng Sri Venkateswara shrine

Over one lakh devotees today thronged the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near here on the occasion of 'Vaikunta Ekadasi' which coincided with the New Year for the first time in several decades.
The temple management had made elaborate arrangements to tackle the rush of devotees on the hills following the rare co-incidence of the two key events in the temple annual calendar.
Temple sources told PTI that after offering worship, devotees had the opportunity of passing through the 'Vaikuntam Passage Mantapam' encircling the sanctum sanctorum of the ancient hill shrine.
The passage called 'Vaikunta Dwaram' is opened only once a year on Vaikunta Ekadasi day, they said.

The devotees were allowed darshan of the Lord from small hours to beyond midnight.
The main deity of Lord Venkateswara was adorned with special diamond set ornaments including the 'swarna peethambaram' (a thick golden sheet ornament covering from waist to feet) on the occasion.
The sacred Golden Chariot procession of Lord Venkateswara was taken out around the shrine in the forenoon.