Tirumala Feeds Three Lakh Pilgrims Daily
Nearly three lakh pilgrims visiting Tirumala receive free meals every day, making the temple town’s Annaprasadam programme one of the largest free community feeding initiatives in the world.
At a time when food insecurity continues to affect millions worldwide, the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara operates an extensive food distribution network that provides nutritious meals to every devotee free of cost.
Launched on April 6, 1985, as the Nitya Annadanam scheme, the initiative has evolved into a massive humanitarian programme under the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ (TTD) Sri Venkateswara Annaprasadam Trust. Over the years, it has become an integral part of the Tirumala pilgrimage experience, reflecting the age-old belief that “Annadanam is Mahadanam”, or the highest form of charity.
The scale of the programme is reflected in recent figures. Between January and May 2026, the TTD served more than 4.40 crore portions of food through its Annaprasadam network. In May alone, over 92 lakh servings were distributed, underscoring the steady influx of devotees to the temple town.
On an average day, around 70,000 pilgrims are served milk, tea and coffee, while more than 60,000 receive breakfast. Nearly one lakh devotees partake of lunch and another 56,000 are served dinner.
The Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Annaprasadam Complex remains the backbone of the programme, serving over 82,000 meals every day. Additional support comes from the Akshaya Kitchen, the Vaikuntham Queue Complex, the Narayanagiri sheds and several other distribution centres across Tirumala.
Maintaining such a vast operation requires meticulous planning. Every day, nearly 15.8 tonnes of rice, 2,861 kg of pulses, 3,110 kg of edible oil, besides wheat products and other ingredients, are utilised to prepare and serve meals while maintaining uniform quality standards.
To cater to growing pilgrim numbers, the TTD has expanded and modernised its infrastructure. Commissioned in 2024, the Vakulamatha Centralised Kitchen expanded food distribution to 28 additional locations. A new dining hall at PAC-5, with a seating capacity of 1,500 devotees at a time, has also been added.
Further expansion is in the pipeline, with plans for a fully automated satellite kitchen capable of preparing meals for up to two lakh pilgrims a day.
Backed by fixed deposits exceeding ₹2,460 crore, the Annaprasadam Trust has evolved into much more than a charitable feeding programme. For millions of devotees, it remains an enduring symbol of service and compassion, sustaining an uninterrupted flow of food throughout the year and emerging as a notable model of faith-based public welfare.