TTD honours vegetable donors

In a heartening acknowledgment of the quiet generosity that sustains one of the world’s most renowned pilgrim centres, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) on Tuesday honoured its vegetable donors and individuals who ensure that lakhs of devotees are fed every day.

Addressing the donors at Annamaiah Bhavan, Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary lauded their contributions, noting that 24 benefactors from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh regularly donate around seven tonnes of nearly 25 varieties of vegetables.

With demand surging, particularly ahead of the annual Brahmotsavams—when vegetable requirements are estimated at 10 tonnes a day—he called for “dynamic mapping” to streamline supplies and prevent duplication. Emphasising the importance of micro-level planning, he suggested that donors align their contributions with seasonal produce and coordinate through a digital platform.

Annaprasadam officials reported that donor contributions have steadily risen from 5.79% in 2022 to nearly 7% this year and highlighted that 96% of pilgrims have expressed satisfaction with the expanded food distribution over the past 18 months.

The meeting concluded with the felicitation of the donors.