The wait for ‘Visa’ Balaji darshan to get longer as temple remains shut

Temple bells across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are ringing once again.

Much to the joy of devotees, even popular ones like

Venkateshwara Swamy Temple

in Tirupati, Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada and Srisaila Devasthanam have opened doors. But if you’re among those who hoped for a divine intervention to solve your travel troubles and visa woes, which have compounded thanks to Covid-19, then you will have to wait a while longer. Chilkur’s famed Balaji Temple, whose presiding deity is fondly called ‘

Visa Balaji

’ for answering prayers of those who want their H1Bs and PRs, won’t be open for live darshans anytime soon.

“The rate at which Covid-19 positive casesare rising in Telangana, particularly Hyderabad, is worrisome. This is not the time to open places of worship for

darshanam

,” he says, adding, “Chilukur Balaji doesn’t fall under the

Endowment Department

. Traditionally, only

priests

belonging to our family are entitled to perform pujas at the garbha gudi (sanctum). So, if the pujaris fall ill, we will have to shut the shrine. It is for the same reason that the Anantapadmanabha Swamy Temple, Kerala is also not open to devotees. We cannot allow devotees at a time when the risk of infection is at an all-time high.”

The temple will open only when the risk of coronavirus infection is eradicated, informs Rangarajan.