Tirupati: The on-going strike opposing the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh Seemandhra agitation against the Centre’s decision to create Telangana state has not only affected normal life in the state but also hit the income and inflow of devotees at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near here.
Highly placed temple sources told PTI today that as a result of the strike, the cash offering made by devotees in the hundi (offerings box) of the hill temple in August has netted about Rs 61.5 crore with, which was about Rs 16 crore less than in the same month last year.
The inflow of pilgrims too has come down in August to 19.5 lakh against 23 lakh pilgrims in the month last year, they said.
However, the strike evoked no impact on sale of worship tickets at the shrine as the Rs 300 special entry darshan tickets and other rituals tickets in August has accounted to Rs 15.5 crore, almost the same as fetched during the same month last year, they said.
PTI
