Newsroom, December 31 2025: Devotees poured into the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara in large numbers as Vaikunta Dwara Darshan continued on its second peak day.
The northern gate of heaven, Vaikunta Dwara, opened at midnight, allowing selected pilgrims to pass through after darshan amid Govinda chants. This rare annual ritual, believed to grant moksha, coincides with Vaikunta Ekadashi fervour and New Year timing, fueling massive turnout.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams restricted entry to e-DIP token holders for the first three days, selecting 1,72,000 from 24 lakh nationwide registrations, with Andhra Pradesh leading demand.
Authorities deployed 3,500 police, used AI monitoring, and arranged floral decorations plus special processions like Swarna Ratham. Peaceful crowds moved smoothly despite the rush. As the 10-day window runs through January 8, general access opens wider from January 2.
