Thousands witness Garuda Seva

Tirupati: It was a sea of humans at Tirumala as thousands of devotees from various corners of the country congregated to witness the key and most auspicious event Garuda Seva held at Tirumala as part of Srivari Brahmotsavams on Monday evening.

The processional deity Malayappa adorned with dazzling precious ornaments Saligrama Kasula Haram, huge multi-layer Lakshmi Haram and Makarakanti seated on his favorite celestial carrier (Vahanam) Garuda, the bird king was taken in a colorful procession around the Mada streets amidst the chanting of `Govinda, Govinda’ from the ecstatic crowd assembled in the galleries in huge number to have a glimpse of the deity, reverberating the skylines of the holy hills.

These ornaments which adorn `Moola Virat (presiding deity)’ in the sanctum sanctorum are brought outside the temple to decorate the processional deity Malayappa on Garuda Seva day, adding to the importance of the event.  

As witnessing Malayappa on Garuda, who is worshipped by Vaishanvites as `Peria Thiruvadi’ considered most holy and meritorious by the devotees at large, the Vahana Seva naturally becomes a major occasion of the annual Brahmotsavams at Tirumala attracting large number of crowds from various States more so from the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra.  

Garuda Seva started at 7 pm, an hour before the normal time of Brahmotsava Vahana Seva which begins at 8 pm and went on till midnight to enable the large number of devotees packed in the galleries to have darshan of the deity.

The deity blazing with jewels moving on Garuda Vahanam to the accompaniment of traditional music, chanting of hymns from scriptures and Divyaprabhanda pasurmas and colourful cultural teams performing all along the mada streets turned a cynosure of the devotees waiting patiently for hours in the galleries.

TTD management made elaborate arrangements including supply of food, beverages like buttermilk, water and also toilets in the galleries for devotees waiting to witness Garuda Vahaam. 

The galleries were thrown open at 10 in the morning and were full to the brim in 3-4 hours with the devotees pouring in from all directions resulting in all the galleries on the four Mada streets around the shrine, looking jam-packed. 

Tight security was in place helping the major event pass off smoothly despite huge crowd, leaving TTD and police authorities heave a sigh of relief.
RTC sources said that about 60,000 devotees were ferried to Tirumala till 6 pm on Monday while thousands of ardent devotees reached the hills by walk through the two footpaths from Srivarimettu and also Alipiri, Tirupati, to participate in the Garuda Seva. 

In Tirupati, down the hills, police regulated the vehicular traffic and barred RTC services in the city on the routes linking Alipiri, from where the ghat roads and footpath to Tirumala begins.

While the RTC buses plying between Tirupati and Tirumala on the ghat road were terminated at Alipiri bus station, avoiding city railway station and bus stand to run more services on the ghat road to cope with Garuda Seva rush, which was less for the RTC, this year compared to last year. 

Two-wheelers were also banned on the ghat road to ensure smooth flow of vehicles and parking was arranged for them at Alipiri and for four-wheelers and tourists’ vehicles at ISKCON ground, Alipiri bus station and also Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan grounds.