Pilgrims offer Rs.832 crore to Tirumala temple in 2014

Hyderabad, Jan 01 The Venkateswara temple, India's richest shrine located on the Tirumala hills in Tirupati, earned Rs.832 crore as 'hundi' collection or offerings by pilgrims during 2014. Over 2.26 crore pilgrims visited the temple in Andhra Pradesh, about 550 km from Hyderabad. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which runs the affairs of the temple, said over 8.98 crore pilgrims were sold laddoos. More than 1.15 crore people tonsured their heads. As many as 1,86,31,312 people were served food under 'annaprasadam'. The 'hundi' collection for the calendar year was equal to the offerings during financial year 2013-14. The TTD has projected 'hundi' collection at Rs.900 crore for 2014-15. The overall revenue of the temple during 2013-14 was Rs.2,263 crore. This is likely to be Rs.2,401 during the current financial year.