2 weeks ago
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The contented of offering hairsbreadth to Lord Venkateswara astatine Tirumala temple has scaled unprecedented levels this summer, with implicit 12.43 lakh devotees tonsuring their heads successful the archetypal 27 days of this month, rewriting erstwhile records astatine the ‘Kalyanakatta’ considered arsenic the world’s largest tonsuring centre.
The TTD authorities attributed the dependable emergence successful hairsbreadth offerings, often referred to arsenic ‘black gold’ that has a large request successful the planetary markets, to the unprecedented footfalls this summer. The TTD generates much than ₹130 crore annually from selling the quality hair.
According to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), 12,43,063 devotees offered their hairsbreadth betwixt May 1 and 27 this year, importantly surpassing the full figures recorded successful May 2024 (10,65,729) and May 2025 (10,18,370).
More than 50,000 devotees underwent tonsuring each time betwixt May 18 and 23 erstwhile the assemblage was astatine its peak. On May 23 alone, a singular 57,580 devotees offered their hair.
To negociate the expanding surge of devotees, the TTD expanded operations crossed aggregate tonsuring centres at 11 mini Kalyanakattas astatine assorted locations including PAC complexes, impermanent houses and other accommodation centres.
More than 1,150 barbers, including 269 women staff, person been deployed to guarantee uninterrupted services. While each barber usually attends to 40 devotees during a six-hour shift, the medication has assigned an further 250 unit regular to grip the rush.
Sanitation and hygiene measures person been intensified astatine each tonsuring halls, too ensuring comfy bathing facilities, blistery water, drinking water, seating arrangements and token systems to minimise the waiting time.
Blades are mandatorily disinfected utilizing sodium solution and different antiseptic cleansing earlier use. Devotees are besides being provided sandalwood paste for exertion connected their heads aft tonsuring, portion dedicated teams are tasked with the postulation and unafraid retention of the hairsbreadth truthful offered.
