TIRUPATI: For the first time in its history, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has decided to cancel some daily and weekly rituals and restrict congregation of pilgrims for religious events at the famed Lord Balaji temple, blaming it on coronavirus.Senior TTD officials on Saturday said the temple administration had never before resorted to a ‘contingency plan’ such as this. The temple is believed to have been constructed over a period of time starting 300 AD.Confirming that the virus scare had forced their hand, TTD executive officer Anil Kumar Singhal told TOI, “We have never faced such a situation before. Our main focus is to ensure smooth passage of religious events for the Lord without allowing pilgrims to congregate in big numbers.”Singhal said weekly rituals like Sahasra Kalasabhishekam (every Wednesday) and Vishesha Pooja (every Monday), and daily rituals like Vasanthotsavam would not be performed. “These rituals have been cancelled indefinitely. Utsavams for the Lord will go on as usual. The Srirama Navami celebrations at Vontimitta temple will be organised as per schedule but with restrictions,” the EO said.TTD has also decided to postpone the ground-breaking ceremony of its new temple at Bandra in Mumbai in the wake of the virus fear.Singhal said pilgrim gatherings at key congregation points and reception counters would not be allowed. “Only 3,500-4,000 pilgrims (every hour) will be allowed for the Lord’s darshan,” he said. Normally, 5,000 to 5,500 pilgrims are allowed every hour at the shrine which receives close to 1 lakh pilgrims from across the world every day.