A group of devotees from Tamil Nadu sparked controversy after being caught consuming egg biryani at the Rambagicha bus stand in Tirumala. The incident, which occurred on Friday, has drawn attention due to the strict prohibition of non-vegetarian food at the sacred hill town.
The group of 30 devotees had traveled to Tirumala from Gummadipudi village near Tiruvallur. They were carrying their own lunch, which included egg biryani. Vigilance officers noticed the devotees eating near the bus stand and later confirmed the presence of chicken eggs in their meal. Upon receiving information from fellow devotees, police officers intervened and questioned the group. They were then issued a verbal warning, with no further action taken.
While the devotees claimed they were unaware of the rules, the consumption of alcohol, non-vegetarian food, smoking, and chewing tobacco is strictly prohibited in the area. This long-standing rule is enforced by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which oversees the temple’s operations.
Critics perceived this as a security lapse at the Alipiri checkpoint, which allowed the group to bring non-vegetarian food into the area. The controversy has also sparked outrage on social media, with many calling for stricter enforcement of the rules to preserve the sanctity of the holy site.