tirupati

subrsrini · Feb 7th, 2008, 16:55

hi
can anyone tell me if europeans (white) are allowed to enter the temple for the darshan preferably following the suprabaratham early morning.
tried the tirumala website- no luck as no info on this particular query. tried to email them- bounced back.
regards

sri

sorry. saw some info on this site after posting my question. look like one has to sign a declaration form of some sort. any more info on this like what is it and where does this need to be signed. is this needed if the person (non hindu) is married to an indian?
sri

wonderwomanusa · Feb 9th, 2008, 01:23

Haven't been to Tirupati, but somewhere that I was allowed into the temple I had to sign a declaration that I wouldn't do anything against the Hindu religion. It comes, of course, with a request for a contribution; at the time Rs 10 was more than enough.

claurianta · Feb 9th, 2008, 04:15

I went to Tirumala in 2004, and I'm european with blonde hair. I had to pay 50 Rs., just like anyone else, for a place in the queue, which was two days long (they give you a time-stamped wristband so you don't actually have to queue up - and it was two days because it was the biggest festival of the year). They didn't make me sign anything or do anything special.

Graeme · Feb 9th, 2008, 04:52

Hello,

The first time I went for Darshan, I was with my Wife and in-laws. We started queuing from around 4-5am so I guess that's the one you're refering to.

One actually signs about halfway along the queue. It's a declaration of something like "I certify I believe in Lord Balaji" etc...Pretty ridiculous really. I can't see the point. If my Wife had to sign "I believe in Lord Jesus" when we went to Church, I wouldn't take her out of principle. I mean, what's the point? What really annoyed me is that it's not for whites per se, but "non-Hindus". So there you go, a person can only be a Hindu if they are Indian, regardless of whether they practice Santana Dharma or not! Anyway, I digress. The second time, I got the 'VIP puja' as my in-laws knew somebody who knew somebody etc...This basically meant I skipped the queue but still had to sign a book (same 'certification' form), before I went in.

On the plus side, whilst you're being pushed about by the girl guides / boy scouts: 'get 'em in - get 'em out', the Priest may well pull you from the line as a foreigner to "come and see God", so standing out from the crowd does have an advantage.

So don't worry. You'll get in OK. Just humour them and sign!

subrsrini · Feb 11th, 2008, 14:39

thanks. we will give it a try. how easy is it to get tickets for suprabaratham in may '08 around 23/24 which is a friday/saturday.

Feb 7th, 2008, 16:55	#1
subrsrini Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: london Posts: 13	hi can anyone tell me if europeans (white) are allowed to enter the temple for the darshan preferably following the suprabaratham early morning. tried the tirumala website- no luck as no info on this particular query. tried to email them- bounced back. regards sri sorry. saw some info on this site after posting my question. look like one has to sign a declaration form of some sort. any more info on this like what is it and where does this need to be signed. is this needed if the person (non hindu) is married to an indian? sri Last edited by Sama : Feb 9th, 2008 at 01:35.

Feb 9th, 2008, 04:15	#3
claurianta Global Nomad Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ottawa Posts: 121	I went to Tirumala in 2004, and I'm european with blonde hair. I had to pay 50 Rs., just like anyone else, for a place in the queue, which was two days long (they give you a time-stamped wristband so you don't actually have to queue up - and it was two days because it was the biggest festival of the year). They didn't make me sign anything or do anything special. __________________ "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." -Walter Winchell "A true friend is one who knows all about you and likes you anyway." -Christi Mary Warner

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Feb 9th, 2008, 01:23	#2
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,245	Haven't been to Tirupati, but somewhere that I was allowed into the temple I had to sign a declaration that I wouldn't do anything against the Hindu religion. It comes, of course, with a request for a contribution; at the time Rs 10 was more than enough.

Feb 9th, 2008, 04:52	#4
Graeme Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dudley, West Midlands, UK Posts: 22	Hello, The first time I went for Darshan, I was with my Wife and in-laws. We started queuing from around 4-5am so I guess that's the one you're refering to. One actually signs about halfway along the queue. It's a declaration of something like "I certify I believe in Lord Balaji" etc...Pretty ridiculous really. I can't see the point. If my Wife had to sign "I believe in Lord Jesus" when we went to Church, I wouldn't take her out of principle. I mean, what's the point? What really annoyed me is that it's not for whites per se, but "non-Hindus". So there you go, a person can only be a Hindu if they are Indian, regardless of whether they practice Santana Dharma or not! Anyway, I digress. The second time, I got the 'VIP puja' as my in-laws knew somebody who knew somebody etc...This basically meant I skipped the queue but still had to sign a book (same 'certification' form), before I went in. On the plus side, whilst you're being pushed about by the girl guides / boy scouts: 'get 'em in - get 'em out', the Priest may well pull you from the line as a foreigner to "come and see God", so standing out from the crowd does have an advantage. So don't worry. You'll get in OK. Just humour them and sign!

Feb 11th, 2008, 14:39	#5
subrsrini Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: london Posts: 13	thanks. we will give it a try. how easy is it to get tickets for suprabaratham in may '08 around 23/24 which is a friday/saturday.

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