Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana is a weekly arjitha seva at Tirumala, performed every Tuesday morning, in which the priests offer 108 golden lotus flowers at the feet of Lord Venkateswara while reciting his 108 divine names. The ticket costs ₹1250 per person, and devotees gather around 5:00 AM for a seva that runs roughly from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM. TTD releases only about 100 tickets per Tuesday, which makes it one of the harder sevas to secure. This article explains the ritual, its 1984 origin, the prasadam included, and how to book.
The ritual of the golden lotuses
The seva’s name combines ashtadala (eight-petalled), pada (feet) and padmaradhana (lotus worship). During the ceremony the archaka recites the 108 names (ashtottara shatanamavali) of the Lord, and as each name is uttered, one golden lotus is placed at the holy feet of the deity. By the close, 108 golden lotuses have been offered. Ticket holders witness this from a designated position inside, close to the sanctum, which is part of why the limited quota is so prized.
Timing and reporting
- Day: every Tuesday.
- Gather by: around 5:00 AM at the Vaikuntham Queue Complex.
- Seva window: roughly 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM.
- Attendee: the named ticket holder, with the photo ID used at booking.
As with all sanctum sevas, traditional dress is required and phones are deposited in lockers beforehand. The reporting and start times follow the temple’s morning ritual order and can shift on festival days.
Ticket price and what you receive
The Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana ticket is ₹1250 per person, among the higher-priced weekly sevas. The prasadam package is correspondingly generous. Ticket holders are typically given two large laddus and two vadas, along with a vastra bahumanam: an uttariyam (upper cloth) for men and a blouse piece for women. The exact prasadam set is set by TTD and can change, so the booking confirmation is the reference.
How to book
With roughly 100 online tickets per Tuesday, this seva books out almost as soon as the quota opens. The process mirrors other arjitha sevas.
- Log in to a devotee account on tirumala.org or the TTD portal on ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in.
- Open the arjitha seva calendar and select Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana on a Tuesday.
- Enter the attendee’s name, age, gotra and a government photo ID.
- Pay the ₹1250 fee online and download the e-ticket.
A limited offline (current) quota may also be released; the online route is the most reliable given the small overall number.
A seva with a 1984 origin
The ritual was first introduced in the Srivari temple in 1984, the Golden Jubilee year of TTD, when a devotee offered Lord Srinivasa 108 gold lotuses. The offering was then formalised as the weekly arjitha seva it is today. That comparatively recent and well-documented origin sets it apart from the temple’s ancient daily rituals, and the gold-lotus offering remains its defining feature.
For what it’s worth, at ₹1250 with a close sanctum view, the recitation of the 108 names, and a substantial prasadam including the vastram, this seva offers strong value among the premium weekly options; the catch is purely the tiny quota, so the deciding factor is whether you can book the instant the Tuesday slot opens rather than the price.
Common questions
How much is the Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana ticket?
The ticket is ₹1250 per person and admits one named individual, who attends with the photo ID used at booking. The fee includes a close view of the seva, subsequent darshan and a generous prasadam. TTD revises arjitha seva tariffs occasionally, so confirm the current figure on the booking screen before paying. Only about 100 tickets are released per Tuesday.
What time is the seva on Tuesday?
Devotees gather by about 5:00 AM at the Vaikuntham Queue Complex, and the seva runs roughly from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM. Reporting and start times follow the temple’s morning ritual schedule and can shift on festival days. Arrive in good time and in traditional dress, with phones deposited in lockers, since the group is escorted into the sanctum together.
What prasadam do I get?
Ticket holders are typically given two large laddus and two vadas, plus a vastra bahumanam: an uttariyam (upper cloth) for men and a blouse piece for women. The exact prasadam set is decided by TTD and can be revised, so treat this as the usual package rather than a fixed promise. The booking confirmation and the prasadam counter are the reliable guide on the day.
Why are tickets so hard to get?
TTD releases only about 100 tickets for this seva each Tuesday, because the ritual is performed close to the sanctum where space is limited. With demand far outstripping that number, the online quota is usually exhausted within minutes of opening. Booking the moment the slot becomes available, well before your travel dates, is the only dependable way to secure a place.
A limitation worth noting
One limitation worth noting: the ₹1250 price, the ~100-ticket quota, the prasadam set and the reporting time are all set by TTD and can be revised, and the seva may be rescheduled during major festivals. The figures here reflect TTD’s recent practice, including the new Tuesday timing, but the booking confirmation overrides anything written here. Verify the current price, slot and quota on tirumala.org at the time you book.
References: TTD official site, the TTD Arjitha Sevas page, and the TTD booking portal on the AP government site.
