Religious fervour marks Metlotsavam

Tirupati: The essence of Vedas is embedded in the sacred Sankeertans of Sri Purandara Dasa, said pontiff of Vyasaraja Mutt Sri Vidya Shreesha Thirtha Swamiji.

Participating in the grand quarterly Srivari Metlotsavam organised by the TTD Dasa Sahitya Project at the Padala Mandapam in Alipiri, the pontiff said great saint poets and devotees of Lord Venkateswara like Sri Thagaraya, Sri Annamacharya and emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya had spread glory of Lord to the entire universe.

He said it was heartening to note that the TTD organised the Metlotsavam festival so that present day devotees would be inspired to follow their footsteps. It was a great blessing to start climbing the Tirumala hills at Brahma muhurtam and get darshan of Lord Venkateswara.

Ananda Thirthacharya, OSD of TTD Dasa Sahitya Project, said devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu came in a big number and were climbing Tirumala by foot chanting bhajans. 

The bhajan mandal members were given training in dharma and Antakshari programmes in Haridasa Keertans. Various competitions and Sangeet Chitravali programmes were conducted for them.  Members of the bhajan mandals were expected to spread the theme of devotion in their regions. 

Earlier, about 3,000 bhajan mandal members walked from the third choultry to Alipiri Padala Mandapam chanting sankeertans and performed special pujas at Padala Mandapam before climbing the Tirumala hills.