Archive · 5 Jan 2026
TTD's e-token system faces criticism for limited darshan
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) tried a new online token system for a special religious event called Vaikuntha Ekadasi.
This system allowed fewer people to visit the main temple in Tirumala compared to other TTD temples.
On December 30, 2025, over 12 lakh devotees visited all TTD temples, but only about 67,000 went to Tirumala.
Other temples saw much bigger increases in visitors.
When the token system was stopped on January 2, more than 83,000 people visited Tirumala in one day, showing that the temple could handle more visitors.
Many people were unhappy because they couldn't see the deity properly, and some even had to wait for more than 15 hours in line.
The TTD is now thinking about changing this system because it didn't work well.
TTD's e-token system during Vaikuntha Ekadasi allowed fewer than 70,000 devotees per day at Tirumala, well below the temple's capacity of over 90,000.
On January 2, 2026, when the token-free system was restored, 83,032 devotees had darshan at Tirumala, the highest count ever recorded on a Friday.
Total devotees across all TTD temples on Vaikuntha Ekadasi 2025 was 12,46,992, a significant increase from 8,89,843 in 2024.
Tirumala saw only a limited increase in devotees from 59,000 in 2024 to 67,053 in 2025, while other TTD temples recorded sharp increases.
Critics argue that the e-token system defeated the spirit of the festival by restricting access to the deity on sacred days.
- Who
- Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and devotees
- What
- Criticism of TTD's e-token system during Vaikuntha Ekadasi
- When
- December 30, 2025, and January 2, 2026
- Where
- Tirumala Temple and other TTD-managed temples across India
- Why
- TTD's e-token system restricted darshan numbers below the temple's capacity, causing dissatisfaction among devotees
- TTD
- Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
- Vaikuntha Ekadasi
- A significant religious event at TTD temples
- E-token system
- Online token-based entry system for darshan
- Total devotees across TTD temples (2025)
- 12,46,992
- Total devotees across TTD temples (2024)
- 8,89,843
- Devotees at Tirumala (2025)
- 67,053
- Devotees at Tirumala (2024)
- 59,000
- Highest darshan count on a Friday
- 83,032 on January 2
- Darshan numbers under e-token system
- Below 70,000 per day
