Vegetable donors have emerged as an indispensable pillar of Tirumala’s massive Anna Prasadam programme, with the temple town currently serving nearly four lakh devotees a day, TTD Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary said on Tuesday (August 18, 2026).

Addressing vegetable donors at a coordination meeting at Sudharma Hall in the Padmavathi Guest House, he said around 13 to 14 tonnes of rice and more than eight tonnes of vegetables were being consumed daily to sustain the vast feeding programme.

He said donors from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka have been supplying vegetables for the past 25–30 years. At present, around 30 donors from three to four States provide 33 varieties of vegetables.

Careful advance planning and coordination had helped minimise rejection and wastage. Donors were also paying close attention to quality, packaging, and transportation. With vegetables being highly perishable in nature, TTD was using cold-storage facilities and prioritising its consumption.

Vegetable consumption has risen sharply from 5.34 tonnes a day three years ago to 8.44 tonnes currently, reflecting the significant expansion of Anna Prasadam services.

Mr. Chowdary said the TTD would formulate a dedicated vegetable-donation policy and develop an online, real-time coordination system to communicate requirements to donors and streamline supplies.

Nearly 4.5 lakh portions are served on Saturdays and Sundays, while the kitchens operate for about 19 hours daily. He attributed the sustained service to the blessings of Lord Venkateswara and urged departments, donors, and service organisations to work as one team for the upcoming Brahmotsavams.

The donors were later honoured with Laddu Prasadam and extended with the darshan of the Lord Venkateswara.

Published - August 18, 2026 08:58 pm IST