The History of Tirupati Hair Donation

Tirupati, located in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, is a renowned pilgrimage destination that attracts millions of devotees from all over the world every year. Devotees primarily visit Sri Venkateswara Temple, one of the most visited religious sites in India, and perform a ritual where they donate their hair on their visit to the temple. Read on to know the history of why they perform this ritual and its significance.

A person getting a shave from a street barber

The origin of the Tirupati Balaji hair donation


The tradition of Tirupati hair donation dates back to the 12th century. According to legend, Princess Padmavathi and a group of devotees had come to Tirupati to seek the blessings of Lord Venkateswara. On their visit, they were attacked by a group of bandits. The princess prayed to Lord Venkateswara for help and promised to offer her hair as a sacrifice if she was saved. Lord Venkateswara heard her prayer and came to her rescue. In gratitude, the princess cut off her hair and offered it to the deity. This act encouraged the other devotees to offer their hair as a sacrifice as well. Inspired by this Tirupati Balaji hair donation story, donating hair has become a major ritual, and millions of devotees perform this ritual every year.
 

The significance of devotees donating their hair


There are several reasons why devotees donate their hair in Tirupati. One of the main reasons is to show their devotion to Lord Venkateswara. By offering their hair as a sacrifice, devotees believe they are making a humble gesture of surrendering to the deity with this personal sacrifice. Many people vow to offer their hair if their wishes are fulfilled. Hair donation is also considered to be a way of purifying oneself.
 

Hair donation at Tirupati


Devotees wishing to donate their hair can visit the many hair donation centres near the temple. These centres provide a clean and hygienic environment for the hair donation process. Before starting this process, the devotees' hair is washed and combed to remove tangles or knots. Then, the hair is cut, collected in a cloth and handed over to the temple authorities. The temple authorities use the donated hair to make wigs and hair extensions, which are then sold to raise funds for the temple's charitable activities. In 2019, Tirupati temple raised Rs. 11.17 cr after auctioning 143.9 tonnes of hair.

When visiting this holy city for your hair donation, think about staying at Raj Park Hotel, Tirupati. Our hotel is strategically located near popular temples and will increase your devotion time. We offer a range of accommodations that help you rest and let you tackle the next day of performing rituals without you being fatigued.