Brahmotsavams begin at Chilkur temple

Chilkur: Sri Venkateswara Swami Brahmotsavam, the most important annual fete, celebrated at Chilkur Balaji Temple here on Monday. The event is being conducted for seven days during Hindu calendar month of Chaitra which falls in between the English months March and April.

The first day of the Utsavam began with Dhwajarohanam. It is a flag-hoisting festival that is held on the first day by hoisting a flag (Dhwajapatam) with a picture of Garuda (Mount of Vishnu) on the top of the Dwajasthambam of the temple. The flag is hoisted amid Vedic chanting.

It is believed to be a symbolic significance of formal invitation to all the deities to attend the Brahmotsavam festival. It is believed that any childless woman who partakes of the prasadam of Garuda is blessed with children. This year nearly 4,000 women will be given the prasadam. Kalyanotsavam will be conducted on April 17, Rathotsavam on April 19 and Chakrateertham on April 21.