Srivari Seva Turns 25: A Journey from 195 Locals to 2 Million Volunteers

Tirumala: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ (TTD) flagship volunteer initiative, 'Srivari Seva,' has completed 25 years of operations, transforming from a modest local effort into a massive spiritual movement involving nearly 20 lakh participants.

Launched in the year 2000 with just 195 local residents to assist with crowd regulation and information, the initiative has evolved into an integral part of the Tirumala ecosystem. What began at Tirupati railway and bus stations has now expanded to 78 locations across Tirumala and Tirupati. Volunteers today are pivotal in diverse operations, including serving Anna Prasadam, vegetable cutting, garland making, managing luggage centers, and assisting in health and security wings.

Over the last two decades, TTD has integrated technology to ensure transparency. The manual letter system used until 2016 has been replaced by an online registration portal, allowing bookings 60 days in advance. Furthermore, an 'electronic dip' system now selects volunteers for temple duties daily, eliminating recommendations and ensuring equal opportunity.

To support this growth, TTD invested ₹100 crore in constructing two 'Srivari Seva Sadan' complexes, accommodating 3,000 volunteers with distinct facilities for men and women. Specialized categories like 'Navaneetha Seva' (35-50 years) and 'Parakamani Seva' (for bank and government employees aged 25-65) have been introduced. The program also offers spiritual training, including meditation and talks on Sanatana Dharma.

Statistics reveal that by November 2025, 19.31 lakh volunteers had served, with professionals including doctors, software engineers, and NRIs joining from states like Maharashtra and West Bengal. Roughly 2,500 volunteers serve daily, with numbers rising to 3,500 during festivals like Brahmotsavams.

However, rising demand has attracted fraudsters. Hyderabad police are currently investigating a woman accused of cheating over 100 devotees by promising Seva slots and Darshan tickets during Vaikunta Ekadasi. Officials have strictly warned devotees to rely solely on the official TTD website to avoid such scams.