Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, has been reeling under extreme cold climatic conditions for the past one week.
Though the town is situated at an altitude of about 3,200 feet above MSL and nestled in the Seshachalam ranges is known for its inclement condition, the sudden dip in the temperature has subjected the pilgrims to a lot of inconvenience.
While the day temperature hovered around 25º Celsius, the night temperature surprisingly was between 10º C to 12º C.
The lowest-ever temperature, below 7.0º C, was recorded in 2015 beating the previous 7.5º C in 2012.
The pilgrims, who normally prefer spending time in the open space in front of the main temple complex admiring the glory of the celebrated deity, favour staying indoor to save themselves from the sweeping cold wave. The gardens and roadside pavements, which hitherto served as transit shelters for those without accommodation, presently sport a deserted look with the devout invading open spaces available at various commercial establishments and open sheds. Devotees attending pre-dawn rituals are also subjected to severe difficulties with the strict implementation of the dress code by the TTD. They find it challenging attending the sevas in the traditional dhoti and upper cloth during the wee hours.
Pilgrims reaching the town without proper apparel are rather forced to burn their pockets buying warm garments from roadside vendors. There is also a considerable dip in two-wheeler traffic on both the ghat roads with people opting either the RTC buses or the private taxis.
According to Ms. Sushma Ramana Reddy, in-charge senior analyst of the TTD meteorological observatory at Tirumala, the town recorded an all-time low of 10.5º C on January 1 and the temperature is likely to take a dip during the ensuing week.
Taking cognizance of the difficulties faced by the devotees, the TTD has not only ensured installation of hot water geysers at all its cottages and guest houses but also set up hot water plants at several of its pilgrim amenities complexes.