Over 12 Lakh Devotees Offer Hair at Tirumala Temple in May

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

More than 12.4 lakh devotees offered hair at Tirumala in May 2026.
Tirumala hair auctions generate around Rs 150 crore annually for TTD.
The number of devotees increased sharply compared to previous years.

Tirupati: More than 12 lakh devotees offered their hair at the famous Tirumala Venkateswara Temple during May 2026 as part of the ritual tonsuring practice associated with Lord Venkateswara worship.

According to an official release issued by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), over 12.43 lakh devotees had offered hair till May 27 this year.

Tirumala Hair Offering Sees Sharp Rise

TTD officials said the number of devotees participating in ritual tonsuring has increased significantly compared to previous years.

The figures released by the temple body showed:

May 2026: 12,43,063 devotees
May 2025: 10.1 lakh devotees
May 2024: 10.6 lakh devotees

The temple administration often refers to donated hair as “Black Gold” because of its huge commercial value in global markets.

The second-order effect of rising pilgrim participation could substantially increase temple revenues, tourism-linked economic activity and employment associated with processing and auctioning temple hair.

TTD Earns Around Rs 150 Crore From Hair Auctions

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams auctions the collected hair through global tenders, earning nearly Rs 150 crore annually.

Tirumala hair is highly valued internationally because of:

Natural texture
Long hair quality
Chemical-free maintenance
High demand in wig and extension industries

Exporters and beauty companies from several countries participate in TTD auctions.

Ritual Tonsuring Holds Religious Significance

Offering hair at Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is considered an act of devotion and surrender among devotees.

Pilgrims believe the ritual symbolises:

Humility
Gratitude
Fulfilment of vows
Spiritual offering to Lord Venkateswara

The practice has remained one of the most distinctive traditions associated with the temple for decades.

Tirumala Continues to Draw Massive Pilgrim Crowds

The steady increase in devotees reflects the continued popularity of the Tirumala shrine, one of the world’s richest and most visited religious institutions.

Apart from spiritual tourism, the temple ecosystem supports thousands of livelihoods linked to: