Tirumala decked up for nine-day Brahmotsavam

Tirumala: Tirumala, the abode Lord Venkateswara, is decked up for hosting the nine-day annual Brahmotsavam festival which will be held from September 30 to October 8.

The entire Tirumala is decorated with the colourful illuminations, arches and huge cut-outs of mythological characters of Gods and Goddess giving a spiritual touch and a festive look to the hilltop temple town.

The religious fete will commence with 45-minute long Dwajarohanam, hoisting of Garuda Dwaja, the celestial flag ceremony, which will be held between 5.43 pm and 6 pm on Monday and will conclude with the performance of Chakrasnanam, in the temple tank (Pushkarini) on the ninth day, on October 8.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is participating in the first day of Brahmotsavam to witness the first Vahana Seva Pedda Seshavahanam (Monday evening). According to official sources, Chief Minister, following the age-old practice will present a set of new silk vasthram on behalf of State government to Lord Venkateswara, immediately after Dwajarohanam and will have darshan. Later he will witness Peddaseshavahanam.

During these nine days, the processional deity of Sri Venkateswara Swamy, popularly revered as "Sri Malayappa Swamy" takes a ride on different carriers along the four-Mada streets encircling the shrine.

Exhibition, discourses, devotional cultural programmes and Bhajans round the clock on the hills to keep the devotees engaged in devotional fervour for the nine days.

According to Sri Venugopala Deekshitulu, one of the Chief Priests of Tirumala temple, the Brahmotsavam festival was a premiere event organised in Tirumala by TTD not only for the welfare of the entire humanity but also to give devotees a glimpse of the divine glory of Sri Venkateswara Swamy.

In all about 9,500 personnel in addition to existing TTD staff working in Tirumala, including 4,200 police and Home Guards, 5,000 volunteers, including 3,500 Srivari Sevaks and 1,500 Scouts and Guides and 300 senior TTD officials drawn from various departments were involved in the day to day conduct of events for nine days.

TTD Executive Officer Ail Kumar Singhal held several rounds of discussion and reviews with TTD, police and district officials led by District Collector Bharath Narayan Gupta finalising the arrangements for the conduct of incident free Brahmotsavam.

TTD also made arrangements on a massive scale for providing free food to devotees in the huge Annadanam complex, galleries, queue complexes and also at several points on hills for the sake of pilgrims.

Meanwhile, Ankurarpanam was performed in the temple on Sunday evening as a prelude to the annual Brahmotsavams. Different varieties of grains are sown in different mud pots at Yagashala, signalling the kick-start of the event.