Looming policy changes sparked a frantic donor rush at Tirumala

Devotees poured a record Rs 96.98 crore into the Tirupati Balaji Temple coffers in just 24 hours on July 15. This sudden surge happened right before the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) enforced strict new rules at midnight. Nearly 2,500 people rushed to contribute their wealth. They wanted to secure lifetime benefits before the management discontinued them for fresh contributors.

Policy Shift Ends Permanent Benefits

TTD Chairperson BR Naidu explained that the recent boom in high-value contributors forced this administrative change. Over the past four months alone, the registry saw nearly 3,000 new people giving Rs 10 lakh or more. Now, fresh rules restrict institutional perks to 15 years. Individual benefactors will only receive special access for 20 years. Old rules granted permanent VIP darshan, special entry, and daily ritual access. People who registered before the midnight deadline keep their permanent status, which directly fueled Tuesday's donation frenzy. The temple boasts a net worth of roughly Rs 3.38 lakh crore, holding status as one of the wealthiest religious institutions globally.

Digital System Replaces Manual Requests

Management will now process all special access requests through an online portal. This shift eliminates manual interference and brings transparency to daily operations. Reward structures have also shrunk under the fresh guidelines. Previously, a one-crore contribution earned a five-gram gold coin. Now, similar large offerings only yield a two-gram gold token. Regular daily offerings easily average around Rs 4.75 crore. Ultimately, temple authorities want to prioritize ordinary pilgrims who often wait hours for a quick glimpse of Lord Venkateswara. These updated donor tiers aim to level the playing field for everyone visiting Tirumala.