The Tirumala temple of Lord Venkateswara is one of the most sacred places in India, attracting thousands of devotees every single day. Pilgrims visit Tirumala not only for darshan of Lord Venkateswara but also to take part in sevas, special rituals, and festivals that carry great spiritual significance. Among these, Vaikunta Ekadasi is considered one of the most auspicious days, drawing massive crowds and special arrangements by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).
In this article, we will go through the latest darshan updates from Tirumala, details about the recent eclipse closures, statistics about devotees, hundi collections, anna prasadam distribution, waiting times, token availability, and complete information on the 2025 Vaikunta Ekadasi and Vaikunta Dwara Darshan arrangements. The answers to common questions raised by devotees have also been included, making this article a complete guide for anyone planning a pilgrimage during this time.
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Recent Temple Closures and Reopenings
On September 7th, due to a lunar eclipse, the Tirumala temple was closed from 3:30 pm until the early hours of the following day. The temple reopened at 3:00 am with the Suprabhata Seva, followed by samprokshana (purification rituals), after which devotees were once again allowed darshan from 6:00 am onwards.
Similarly, the Tarigonda Vengamamba Annaprasada centre was also closed on September 7th from 3:00 pm and reopened the next morning at 8:00 am. Annaprasadams resumed distribution to devotees soon after. These timely closures and purifications are part of temple traditions, ensuring sanctity during celestial events.
Darshan Statistics and Offerings
Despite the eclipse-related closure, a significant number of devotees had darshan. On September 27th, about 27,410 devotees were able to see the Lord, and 9,656 devotees offered their hair as an act of surrender. The hundi collections for that day amounted to an impressive ₹4.39 crores, reflecting the strong devotion and generosity of pilgrims.
These numbers highlight the sheer scale of Tirumala’s daily operations. Whether it is darshan, tonsuring, or offerings, the temple manages massive crowds and resources every single day with organized precision.
Waiting Times for Different Darshan Categories
Darshan timings often vary depending on the crowd levels, type of ticket, and time of the day. Here are the latest updates on waiting times:
- Dharma Darshan (Free Darshan without tokens): At 6:00 am, about 18 compartments were filled in Vaikuntam Queue Complex 2. For these devotees, darshan could take up to 8 hours, while for new arrivals without tokens, waiting times stretched between 10 to 12 hours.
- Slotted Seva Darshan (SSD) tokens & Divya Darshan tokens (Srivari Mettu/Alipiri route): Waiting time was about 3 to 4 hours.
- ₹300 Special Entry Darshan & ₹500 Virtual Seva tickets: These devotees experienced relatively shorter waiting times of about 2 to 3 hours.
Clearly, those with booked tickets save considerable time, while free darshan lines require longer patience.
Offline SSD and Divya Darshan Token Distributio
Offline SSD tokens are distributed daily at three main counters:
- Srinivasam Complex (Near RTC Bus Stand, Tirupati)
- Vishnu Nivasam (Opposite Tirupati Railway Station)
- Bhudevi Complex (Near Alipiri)
In addition, Divya Darshan tokens for devotees climbing the Alipiri Mettu route are distributed at Bhudevi Complex.
- For example, on one day, 17,000 SSD tokens were issued between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm, and 3,000 Divya Darshan tokens were distributed between 1:00 pm and 9:00 pm.
- These tokens are often exhausted quickly. On that day, all 17,000 SSD tokens were fully booked by 12:37 am, and all Divya Darshan tokens were finished by 10:17 am the next morning.
Because of the first-come, first-served system, devotees are advised to reach counters by 12 noon or 1:00 pm if they want to secure tokens.
Vaikunta Ekadasi 2025 Dates and Duration
Vaikunta Ekadasi is one of the most celebrated occasions in Tirumala. In 2025, Vaikunta Ekadasi falls on December 30th, followed by Vaikunta Dwadasi on December 31st.
For this period, Vaikunta Dwara Darshan will be provided for 10 days, from December 30, 2025, to January 8, 2026. Only devotees holding valid tickets or tokens will be allowed darshan. Without tickets, entry will not be permitted.
Types of Tickets Available for Vaikunta Dwara Darshan
For the 10 days of Vaikunta Dwara Darshan, TTD will issue four categories of tickets:
- ₹300 Special Entry Darshan Tickets:
- Per day: 25,000 tickets
- Total for 10 days: 2,50,000 tickets
- Srivani Trust Tickets:
- Per day: 2,000 tickets
- Total for 10 days: 20,000 tickets
- Donation: ₹10,000 per ticket (approx. ₹4,500 for 9 people if booked together)
- Booking: Up to 9 members can be booked at once using a single login
- Trust or Scheme Donor Tickets
- Offline Slotted Seva Darshan (SSD) Tokens:
- Per day: 45,000 tokens
- Total for 10 days: 4,50,000 tokens
- These will be issued at nine counters across Tirupati, one day before Vaikunta Ekadasi begins (December 28th onwards).
Ticket Release Dates
Based on past years:
- In 2024, Vaikunta Ekadasi was on January 10th. ₹300 tickets were released online on December 24, 2024, and Srivani tickets were released on December 3, 2024.
- Similarly, for 2025, ticket releases are expected around December first or second week.
TTD will officially announce release dates 2–3 days in advance. Devotees are advised to stay updated through official websites, Telegram groups, and WhatsApp channels.
Accommodation Rules During Vaikunta Ekadasi
For Vaikunta Ekadasi, TTD has specific arrangements:
- On December 29, 30, and 31 (the day before, the day of, and the day after Vaikunta Ekadasi), online accommodation will not be released. Devotees must book accommodation offline at the CRO office in Tirumala.
- For the remaining days, from January 1 to January 8, 2026, accommodation will be available online as usual.
Seva Ticket Restrictions
Certain seva tickets have booking restrictions. For example:
- Anga Prakshanam Seva tickets: If booked once, a 90-day gap must be maintained before the same seva can be booked again using the same mobile number, email ID, or Aadhaar card.
- Example: If Anga Prakshanam was performed on September 3, 2025, the next booking can only be made from December 4, 2025 onwards.
- However, devotees are free to book other types of darshan tickets (₹300, senior darshan, or arjitha sevas) without waiting for this 90-day period.
Key Guidelines for Devotees
- Carry a valid Aadhaar card for darshan and seva verification.
- Reach Tirupati token counters by afternoon if you want offline SSD or Divya Darshan tokens.
- Plan early for Vaikunta Ekadasi tickets, as online releases are limited and sell out within minutes.
- For offline SSD tokens, be ready to wait in queue lines as they are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.