Rs 18 crore collected during Navaratri festival

The annual Navaratri Brahmotsavam festivals,that concluded today at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala has fetched a total revenue of over Rs 18 crore.

Of this,the temple hundi (offering box) alone netted the cash offerings of about Rs 14 crore while the sales of special entry darshan tickets and laddu prasadams amounted to over Rs three crore,temple sources said tonight.

The accommodations including about five thousand rooms and about one hundred guest houses alloted to the pilgrims during the the nine days earned more than Rs one crore,they said.

About two and half lakh devotees had their heads tonsured as fulfillment of their vow before entering the hill shrine during the nine days,they added.