With a noble aim to ensure that all food and sacred prasadams of Srivaru, prepared and distributed by TTD adhere to the highest standards of safety, nutrition and quality, while preserving their traditional character TTD has signed an MoU with the CSIR–Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI), Mysore, to integrate scientific methods into TTD’s food systems.
The MoU was first of its kind in the temple sector in the entire country to be entered in the presence Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri Pralhad Joshi during the two-day RISE Conclave 2026 (Research, Innovation, Start-ups and Entrepreneurship) held at Bengaluru.
Giving a clarion call to the innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers the Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening research and development, expanding manufacturing capabilities and fostering a culture of innovation using indigenous technologies.
Key features of the partnership:
Strengthened safety and quality controls: Joint teams will develop and implement rigorous quality-control standards, standard operating procedures and monitoring mechanisms covering procurement, preparation and distribution.
Modernization of systems: CSIR-CFTRI will advise on upgrading storage, testing and procurement processes, recommending scientifically validated technologies andbest-practice workflows to minimize contamination risk and improve consistency.
Preservation of Prasadam: Research-led packaging and shelf-life interventions will be developed to extend stability without compromising authentic taste, texture or cultural value.
Capacity building: CSIR-CFTRI will provide structured training for TTD’s in-house food analysts and handlers in advanced analytical techniques, sampling protocols, contaminant detection and specialized assessments such as ghee purity and aroma profiling.
Expert engagement: Senior scientists from CSIR-CFTRI will conduct regular visits to TTD facilities to support implementation, validation studies and improvements to storage and procurement planning.
The Pushpayagam of Sri Venugopalaswamy along with Sri Rukmini and Satyabhama was performed with great religious fervour at Karvetinagaram on Monday.
The festivities began with Snapana Tirumanjanam to the Utsava deities. Later, Pushpayagam was conducted amid Vedic chants and mangala vadyams using ten varieties of flowers and three types of sacred leaves.
Temple priests said the ritual is performed as an expiatory ceremony for any inadvertent lapses during Brahmotsavams and daily rituals, and is believed to bestow welfare and prosperity upon devotees.
Temple officials, priests and a large number of devotees participated in the event.
Keeping in view the convenience and comfort of multitude of devotees visiting Tirumala, besides safeguarding their belongings, TTD has instituted an extensive, modernised luggage Deposit-and-Delivery system.
Staff and Counters:
TTD operates 66 dedicated luggage counters across Tirumala and along the footpath routes, staffed by 345 personnel working in three shifts to ensure uninterrupted service.
These facilities enable pilgrims to safely deposit luggage, bags and mobile phones while undertaking darshan or footpath pilgrimages.
New Record in 2026 Summer :
During April–May 2026, a record
51,38,976 devotees deposited their belongings at TTD counters and utilized the services.
Comparative month-wise details are as follows:
April 2025: 20,75,481 deposits;
April 2026: 23,15,279 deposits (increase of 2,39,798).
May 2025: 23,82,622 deposits;
May 2026: 28,23,697 deposits (increase of 4, 41,075).
Following heavy crowd witnessed in the last week end, a total of 3,41,742 devotees used the free luggage services in the last three-day period alone.
Special deposit–delivery facilities near Kalyanakatta:
KKC 1–3: 3 counters, 18 staff; capacity for 688 mobile phones and 820 luggage deposits.
Supatham Counter: 1 counter, 6 staff; capacity for 1,286 mobile phones and 245 luggage deposits.
Senior Citizens / (PHC): 1 counter, 2 staff; capacity for 265 mobile phones and 75 luggage deposits.
VQC-1 Main Gate (Srivani Trust): 1 counter, 6 staff.
Luggage delivery centres in Tirumala:
Alipiri Footpath Delivery Centre (near GNC): 5 counters, 45 staff; capacity for 9,345 deliveries.
Srivari Mettu Delivery Centre (near TBC): 4 counters, 12 staff; capacity for 2,482 deliveries.
PAC Counters 1–4: 8 counters, 24 staff; capacity for 20,477 mobile phones and 7,899 deliveries.
Counter 07: 4 counters, 12 staff.
Counter 08: 4 counters, 12 staff.
Counter 05: 4 counters, 10 staff.
Advanced Technology :
TTD processes facial-recognition-assisted QR code generation. A QR-coded sticker is affixed to the deposited item and a receipt specifying the luggage details is issued to the devotee.
Presenting the receipt at the collection point enables staff to retrieve and return the item—typically within one minute—using the reference number.
Free Services:
TTD urges all pilgrims to deposit luggage, bags and mobile phones exclusively at official TTD counters and to collect items only upon presentation of the issued receipt/token.
These services are provided for free in view of the safety and comfort of millions and millions of devotees.