Tirumala January 2nd, 2014:​ Crowds participated in the New Year celebrations with loads of vigour and joy. The temple premises were reverberated with Lord Govinda chanting in the early hours of the New Year. Devotees congratulated each other with joy and welcomed the New Year in a grand way. TTD paved the entrance way with red carpet to welcome the VIPs in an affluent manner. TTD made an extra effort in taking care of the arrangements for the VIPs thereby left a huge empty space in front of the temple which caused ire among the ordinary devotees. The devotees protested against the TTD for giving undue importance to the VIPs. They opined that VIPs were welcomed with red carpet unlike ordinary devotees who came in large numbers to worship the almighty on this auspicious day.