Grandeur marked the annual Pushpayagam at Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple here on Saturday as devotees thronged in huge numbers to witness the much awaited celestial fête.
Floral bath was accorded to the processional deities of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, from 2 p.m. under the auspicious Punarvasu star which is also the birth star of Lord Rama.
Several varieties of flowers were used in the fête, lasting for more than three hours, as priests chanted Vishnu-Gayatri mantra to propitiate the Lord of Flowers (Pulludu), who is Pushpadhipathi of the religious ceremony.
The annual fête is observed every year after Brahmotsavams, especially in Vaishnavaite Temples under the aegis of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), to get rid of sins committed either knowingly or unknowingly by priests, temple staff or pilgrims.
Another spiritual belief says that the ceremony will propitiate Lord Rama to save Mother Earth from natural calamities and disasters.
TTD Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao, Joint EO Pola Bhaskar, Temple Deputy EO Bhupati Reddy and other officials took part.
