Damage to Krishna idol sparks concern at Tirumala; TTD responds

Tirupati: Damage to the arm of a Lord Krishna idol installed on the Raja Gopuram of the Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala was noticed on Tuesday morning, drawing the attention of devotees and media personnel who were present at the temple during ongoing maintenance works.

The damage came to light at a time when the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is undertaking painting and repair works on the Raja Gopuram ahead of the annual Brahmotsavams. The condition of the idol raised questions about when the damage had occurred and whether it had been detected during the maintenance activity. The issue soon became a subject of discussion on social media, with concerns being expressed over the upkeep of the idols on the temple gopuram. Responding to the reports, the TTD said there was no negligence on the part of the temple administration and clarified that its staff had already identified the need to repair the Lord Krishna idol during the inspection of the gopuram.

According to the temple administration, the Raja Gopuram has hundreds of idols, many of which are exposed to sunlight and rain for prolonged periods. Such exposure can result in deterioration and the need for periodic restoration, it said.

The TTD explained that inspection of the idols forms part of the routine painting and maintenance programme undertaken before the annual Brahmotsavams. Officials assess the condition of the idols during the works and take up repairs wherever required. In the case of the Lord Krishna idol, the TTD said its personnel noticed the damage and immediately brought it to the attention of the concerned officials, following which the necessary repair process was initiated. The temple body also stated that restoration work is carried out based on the condition of individual idols. Where an idol is found to be beyond repair, arrangements are made for its replacement with a new idol, it said. The TTD urged devotees and the public not to draw conclusions or circulate unverified information about the incident. It said misleading reports and publicity could create unnecessary doubts and concern among devotees. The annual Brahmotsavams at Tirumala are scheduled to be held from September 15 to 23, and maintenance and preparatory works are currently being taken up at the temple complex ahead of the festivities.

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Pradeep Vennelakanti

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