In a remarkable story of faith and determination, an elderly woman believed to be 116 years old has inspired devotees across the country after completing the challenging 11-kilometre Alipiri footpath to the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh. Navaneethamma's extraordinary pilgrimage has gone viral on social media, prompting the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to honour her with a special VIP darshan of Lord Venkateswara.
Her journey has become a powerful reminder that unwavering devotion can overcome even the greatest physical challenges.
Originally from Chennai, Navaneethamma has been living with her relatives in Tirupati for the past few years. Determined to fulfil her long-cherished wish of reaching the hill shrine on foot, she set out on the traditional pilgrimage accompanied by her grandson.
Despite her advanced age, Navaneethamma successfully climbed the nearly 3,550 steps along the 11-kilometre Alipiri route, completing the arduous ascent by late evening. Her resilience and determination drew admiration from fellow pilgrims, many of whom recorded videos of her climb on their mobile phones.
As the videos spread across social media, thousands of people praised her unwavering devotion and incredible endurance, turning her into an inspiration for devotees nationwide.
Moved by her extraordinary act of devotion, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams traced Navaneethamma and arranged a special darshan for her at the Tirumala temple.
She was allowed to enter the temple through the Mahadwaram, an entrance generally reserved for VVIPs, and was escorted to the sanctum during the VIP Break Darshan, enabling her to offer prayers and have a close darshan of Lord Venkateswara.
Following the darshan, Temple Executive Officer Muddada Ravichandra honoured Navaneethamma by presenting her with silk garments and the temple's sacred prasadam. Visibly emotional after completing her spiritual journey, she thanked TTD officials with folded hands and a warm smile.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also praised Navaneethamma's inspiring journey after the video gained widespread attention online.
Sharing the clip on social media platform X, the Chief Minister wrote that age is "just a number when it comes to true devotion" and said he was deeply inspired by the elderly devotee's determination to walk all the way to Tirumala for the blessings of Lord Venkateswara. He also appreciated her family's support in helping fulfil her lifelong spiritual aspiration.
Following the Chief Minister's appreciation, TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu instructed officials to locate Navaneethamma and facilitate a special VIP darshan.
According to her grandson, several family members tried to discourage Navaneethamma from undertaking the physically demanding pilgrimage because of her age. However, she remained firm in her decision and insisted on completing the climb on foot.
He said that once she resolved to undertake the pilgrimage, no one could persuade her otherwise, as it had been her long-cherished spiritual wish.
While her relatives claim that Navaneethamma was born in 1910, making her more than 110 years old, there is no official documentation available to verify her exact age.
Regardless of the uncertainty surrounding her age, her determination to complete one of Hinduism's most revered pilgrimages has earned admiration from devotees and the public alike.
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