Fri Jan 10 09:04:01 UTC 2025: **Tirumala Stampede Leaves Six Dead, Dozens Injured During Vaikunta Ekadasi**
TIRUMALA, INDIA – A stampede at Tirumala Venkateswara Temple resulted in the death of six pilgrims and injuries to 48 others on Vaikunta Ekadasi, a significant Hindu festival. The incident occurred at token ticket distribution centers set up for the annual Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, where devotees gain entry through the celestial gate.
Thousands of devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana converged on Tirumala to participate in the event, overwhelming the eight distribution centers with 90 counters. The crush of pilgrims led to the tragic stampede.
Vaikunta Ekadasi, also known as Mukkoti Ekadasi, is a highly auspicious day for Vaishnava Hindus. It marks the opening of the Vaikunta Dwara (celestial gate) at the temple for a single day, offering devotees a unique opportunity for darshan (divine vision) of Lord Venkateswara. The festival is associated with various legends, including one that describes the divine granting of boons to deities by Lord Vishnu. The day is also considered significant due to the subsequent Pushkarini Chakra Snana ritual.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the temple’s governing body, had implemented a token system to manage the large influx of devotees. However, the system proved insufficient to control the immense crowds, leading to the fatal incident. The TTD issued a statement confirming that only devotees with darshan tokens were allowed entry to the temple.
Authorities are investigating the incident to determine the exact cause of the stampede and to improve crowd management strategies for future festivals. The tragedy highlights the challenges of managing large religious gatherings and the need for robust safety measures.
First Piper 