Tirumala map, offering hair, marriage and food, shopping

Tirumala map:

Offering hair:

Tonsuring – the act of shaving your head to propitiate God - is a long standing ritual associated with Tirumala. As per the Vaishavite tradition, devotees offer their hair to the Lord which symbolizes effacing of the ego. Tonsuring used to be done at cottages itself in the past where a barber could be summoned, but new addition is a centralized system which has been put in place at Kalyana Katta, a huge building near the temple. Now, all the barbers sit there in along side each other once you enter the complex. The devotees can pay as per their discretion to the barbers after tonsuring. A bathroom has been provided next to the Kalyanakatta facilitate devotees to take bath. Alternately, a holy dip in the Pushkarini can also be taken, after which the devotees are then supposed to visit the temple for darshan, sell structured settlement payments.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam has a Publication Division. This division publishes books on religious treatises in various languages. They also stack audio, videocassettes on various religious functions. The prices of these books are subsidized. The books are available at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Book Stalls in the railway station, on G. Car Street, Tirupati and at RTC bus stand in Tirumala, phoenix dui lawyers.

Performing Marriages at Tirumala - Tirupati:

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam established a 'Purohita Sangham' (an association of priests) which conducts marriages and other sacred functions like naming ceremony, upanayanam (thread ceremony) etc. There is a fixed fee for each of the functions. Sangham Office is located within the precincts of India Coffee House in Tirumala. The Purohita Sangham performs rituals according to South as well as North Indian traditions.

Accommodations

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam has some cottages expressly for performing marriage functions. Some of the Religious Mutts in the Mada Streets also have the built marriage halls. Apart from this, there are some professional marriage agencies in Tirumala who perform these ceremonies on a turn-key basis.

At Tirupati, the Tirumala Tirupati Devsthanam has constructed some marriage function complexes on Tiruchanoor Road. Since, these halls are always in demand, it is advisable to book them at least four to six months advance. For more details the Deputy Executive Officer (Local Temples) in Sri Govindaraja Swami Temple at Tirupati (Phone No.: 24084) should be contacted. Office Timings are from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.

Food & Shopping:

Food:

Sri Venkateshwara Canteen Complex

Vegetarian meals are provided free of cost to devotees, in the Sri Venkateswara Canteen Complex daily from 1000 hrs to 2300 hrs. A free meal coupon is distributed inside the temple after worshipping the Lord to all the devotees.

Shopping:

CD & Cassettes

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam produces, distributes and markets the cassettes in video & audio formats of Vedas, Sankirtanas, Pravachanams.

Handicrafts

In Tirupati works on Woodcarving, Paper pulps, Kalamkari are available along with Whitewood toys. Traditional Tanjore style Gold leaf Paintings which are done up at Madanapalli town are also popular in Tirupati outlets. These paintings have mythological themes as their motifs.

Publication

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, which has a publication department, publishes books & periodicals on Hindu religious treatises. Certain catalogue books are published in various categories such as Ithihas, Sthothras, etc.