Tirumala temple.

VIJAYAWADA: The replica of Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala constructed by TTD at PWD grounds opened on a religious note on Sunday with scores of devotees having a 'darshan'.

Speaking on the occasion, executive officer of TTD D Sambasiva Rao said the temple will be open for the public during pushkarams from 4 am to 10 pm every day. "All the 'arjitha sevas', including 'suprabhatam', 'thomala', 'archana', 'nivedana' and 'sattumora', will be performed in 'ekantam' at the temple. Apart from these, the 'ekanta seva' will be performed as a closing ritual every day," the EO said. The 'pushkara harati' will also be offered every day at Padmavathi Ghat.

The EO said the TTD has made elaborate arrangements to distribute food free of cost to over one lakh devotees every day during the pushkarams. "To oversee these arrangements, we have deputed 650 employees and 1,000 'srivari sevakulu' to take care of the pilgrims," the EO added.