The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the Lord Venkateswara shrine in Tirupati, earned Rs 1,038 crore through cash offerings from devotees in 2016-17.

TTD Executive Officer D Sambasiva Rao said on Friday that 2.68 crore devotees visited the shrine during the financial year.

He said a total of 10.46 crore laddoos, the sweet given as 'prasdadam', were sold in this duration.

The TTD in February approved a Rs 2,858 crore annual budget for 2017-18.

The cash offerings by devotees at the temple 'hundi' was projected at Rs 1,110 crore while interest on investments in various nationalised banks was estimated to fetch Rs 807.7 crore.

The TTD expects Rs 100 crore from the sale of hair offered by devotees, who get their heads tonsured. 

The sale of Rs 300 special entry 'darshan' is expected to fetch a minimum of Rs 256 crore during the financial year.

The 'VIP Darshan' is also made available on the recommendation of ministers, legislators, senior government officers and presidents of political parties. There are three categories - L1, L2 and L3.  The ticket is priced at Rs 500.

The temple that receives 60,000-80,000 people every day is managed by hundreds of officials and priests.

Over 50,000 pilgrims every day get a 'darshan' of the idol at the Tirumala temple in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.

During the summer vacations, and on special occasions, that figure even crosses a lakh.

The laddoo sale is expected to fetch Rs 165 crore.

IANS inputs