Ugadi celebrated with religious fervour

Tirumala: The Telugu New Year Sri Vilambi Nama Ugadi was celebrated with utmost religious fervour at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala on Sunday. After the pre-dawn rituals, the festival idols of Sri Malayappa Swamy flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi on either side, accompanied by Sri Viswaksena-the commander-in-chief of Lord were brought to Bangaru Vakili and seated opposite Garudalwar. 

The Jiyangar Swamijis carried six new Silk Vastrams and offered them to the presiding as well as the processional deities. Among these six clothes, four were offered to Mula Virat. The remaining two were brought to Garudalwar Sannidhi where Asthanam was performed. One Vastram was decorated to Sri Malayappa while another to Viswaksena.

Later Asthanam was performed. The Asthana Purana Siddhanti rendered Panchanga Sravanam in Sri Vilambi Nama Ugadi.  After the Panchanga Sravanam, the bunch of keys belonging to the treasury of Lord known as "Lacchanna Keys" were given to both Tirumala Peda Jiyangar and Chinna Jiyangar Swamijis and later placed at the lotus feet of Lord Malayappa seeking His kind blessings. Interestingly, during Asthanam, "Rupai Harati" was rendered and the officials who were present offered coins and currency notes. 

Later in the presence of the administrative head of TTD, the Executive Officer, the collections were counted and accounted to temple coffers. After the Asthanam, Prasadam was distributed. The mythological themes erected by the garden wing of the TTD inside and outside the Tirumala temple, stood as a special attraction on the festive occasion.

TTD started the floral decors with mythological themes about 15 years ago at Tirumala temple for Ugadi.  This year the vegetable carving remained a cynosure as the themes of "Venkateswara Mahatyam" in watermelon at Dhwajastambham and Varaha Swamy with various types of vegetables outside Aina Mahal were well shaped up attracting pilgrims.

Outside the temple adjacent to Golla Mandapam, the garden wing has set up floral themes of elephant, Radha Krishna etc. The devotees were seen capturing the art in their mobile phones the whole day. TTD EO Anil Kumar Singhal, CVSO A Ravi Krishna, Dy EO Harindranath, GM (Transport) Sesha Reddy and other temple staff were also present.