Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Tirumala Annaprasadam Expands to Nearly 1.8 Lakh Daily Servings
Tirumala provides free food to pilgrims through its Annaprasadam service.
It began in 1985 by feeding about 2,000 people each day.
Now it serves nearly 1.8 lakh portions daily, and even more on busy days.
The food is cooked in three major kitchens and delivered to dining halls, places where pilgrims stay, and queues for darshan.
Donations from devotees support a trust whose savings earn interest to help pay for the meals.
More than 1,000 staff members and volunteers help cook and serve the food.
TTD has expanded where meals are delivered and is planning a kitchen that could prepare food for two lakh people a day.
TTD’s Annaprasadam service has grown from 2,000 daily meals in 1985 to nearly 1.8 lakh servings a day, exceeding three lakh on peak days.
The Sri Venkateswara Nitya Annadanam Scheme began on April 6, 1985, and became a trust in 1994.
The Annaprasadam Trust has fixed deposits exceeding Rs 2,900 crore, built from devotee donations; interest helps fund free meals.
Three kitchens supply meals across dining halls, accommodation facilities and darshan queues, with more than 1,000 staff and volunteers supporting operations.
A kitchen launched in 2024 extended distribution to 28 locations, and TTD plans an automated kitchen able to prepare food for two lakh devotees daily.
- Who
- Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), its staff and Srivari Seva volunteers provide free meals to pilgrims.
- What
- The Annaprasadam service distributes nearly 1.8 lakh servings daily, with more than three lakh on peak days.
- When
- The scheme began on April 6, 1985; the Vakulamatha Centralised Kitchen launched in 2024.
- Where
- Across Tirumala, including dining halls, accommodation facilities and darshan queue areas.
- Why
- To provide free food and ensure pilgrims do not go hungry while waiting for darshan.
- Daily servings
- Nearly 1.8 lakh, rising above three lakh on peak days
- Scheme launched
- April 6, 1985
- Trust established
- The scheme was converted into a trust in 1994
- Fixed deposits
- More than Rs 2,900 crore, funded by devotee donations
- January–September 2026
- More than nine crore servings distributed across Tirumala
- Daily workforce
- More than 1,000 TTD staff members and Srivari Seva volunteers
- Planned kitchen capacity
- An automated satellite kitchen is planned to prepare food for two lakh devotees daily