Tirupati: Faith knows no age, and devotion sees no barriers. At 116, when even a short walk could be a challenge, Navaneethamma achieved what many half her age would find daunting — she trekked the 11-km Alipiri footpath leading to the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh, driven by an unwavering desire to seek the blessings of Lord Venkateswara.Moved by her extraordinary act of devotion, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) officials arranged a ‘special darshan’ for her on Monday morning, allowing her to offer prayers from close quarters, making her spiritual journey even more fulfilling and memorable.Navaneethamma — who is from Chennai but has been staying at her relatives’ place in Tirupati for the past few years — decided to trek to Tirumala on the morning of July 3. Accompanied by her grandson Dikpathi, who supported her at every step, the supercentenarian climbed each of the 3,550 steps along the Alipiri-Tirumala pathway, completing the arduous trek late in the evening.Fellow pilgrims, awed by her determination and resilience, captured her journey on their mobile phones. The videos soon went viral, drawing admiration from devotees nationwide and turning Navaneethamma into a symbol of steadfast faith and perseverance.Andhra chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu was among the first to respond. “Age is truly just a number when it comes to pure devotion! Absolutely awestruck by this 116-year-old grandmother who trekked all the way up to Tirumala on foot to have the divine darshan of Lord Venkateswara Swamy. Wonderful to see her family supporting her lifelong faith. Truly inspiring,” he posted on his X handle.Acknowledging her spiritual feat, TTD chairman B R Naidu gave directions to trace Navaneethamma and facilitate a VIP darshan for her. On Monday morning, the 116-year-old grandma entered the Tirumala temple through the Mahadwaram, and was led to the sanctum sanctorum, where she offered prayers to Lord Venkateswara from close quarters during the VIP break darshan slot.After the blissful darshan, she conveyed her gratitude to TTD authorities with folded hands. Temple executive officer Muddada Ravichandra felicitated her with a silk robe and offered her the temple’s prasadam personally.Navaneethamma — who, according to her relatives, was born in 1910 but does not possess any official records to substantiate her age — was unable to describe her excitement after stepping out of the temple, acknowledging all questions only with folded hands and a smile.Her grandson said she was determined to undertake the arduous climb despite everyone trying to dissuade her due to her age. “Her resolve was unwavering. I would call it the Lord’s ‘divine drama’,” Dikpathi said, expressing gratitude to TTD for fulfilling his grandmother’s “lifelong wish”.
