The devotee turn out slipped significantly on Monday compared to Sunday, which witnessed the rush of about 92,000 devotees. About 51,000 devotees thronged Indrakeeladri on fifth day. Sale of Rs. 300 tickets also dropped to 3250 from 5940 on previous day. Also, Rs. 100 tickets sale fell by three times. Only 4,094 tickets were sold compared to 12,868 tickets last day. The sale of laddu prasadam also dipped to 51,700 as against 1,11,970 laddus sold on Sunday.
The priests and temple employees feel that the too many restrictions and long queue lines were taking away the sheen of Dasara festivities. “Not many are showing interest to visit the temple during the festival due to restrictions,” observed a priest, who did not want to be quoted.
The priests and vedic scholars are dismayed that the temple management was comparing everything with Tirumala and implementing similar procedures here. Every temple has its own system, which have to be followed invariably. Also, the focus was more on extravaganza rather than the rituals that have to be followed scrupulously. Take for instance there was no space for local and traditional musicians. The temple management was more enthusiastic in engaging drummers from Kerala rather than dolu and sannayi here. More so, the emphasis was on sale of Rs. 300 and Rs. 100 tickets, they point out.
Senior citizens, physically challenged are the worst sufferers as they are forced to enter the queue lines from Vinayaka temple or walk down till Ashoka pillar to board the free buses. The police are not allowing even two wheelers to go towards Ashoka pillar. Earlier, vehicle movement used to be restricted on Moola nakshatram day and on Vijyaya Dasami day. This year, the police have already begun restrictions which are posing hardships to senior citizens and physically challenged. On Monday, a physically challenged was bodily lifted by the volunteers indicating poor arrangements for disabled.