Lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country converged at the abode of Lord Venkateswara to take part in the auspicious ‘Garuda seva’ on Wednesday.
All the four mada streets encircling the temple were packed to capacity. Fearing lack of space, devotees started assembling in the galleries all along the mada streets through which the celestial procession of Lord Garuda was to pass since early morning.
The temple management had a tough time catering to the requirements of the teeming devotees. There was an uninterrupted supply of free food packets, water and buttermilk sachets to all those waiting in the galleries. Hundreds of Srivari Seva volunteers, along with Scouts and Guides, were seen assisting the TTD staff in the distribution of food and water.
A couple of ambulances were also parked in the mada streets to meet any kind of eventuality.
The crowd, which began escalating since the previous day, was at its peak by evening. Several thousands of ‘Govinda Mala’ devotees reached the town on foot. About 42,000 devotees reached Tirumala on foot on Tuesday alone .
Even though the entry into the mada streets remained cosy till in the evening, the exit was rather agonising for the devotees with the police who were deployed in large numbers not permitting them to move out. As only five points were earmarked for the devotees to gain access into the mada streets, they were forced to walk long distances. Devotees were seen locked in heated argument with the police who forestalled them from entering into the mada streets but permitted their own kith and kin during the latter part of the day.
Meanwhile, the processional deity of Malayappa Swamy was adorned with very rare and antique jewels like ‘Makara Kanti, ‘Saligrama haram’, ‘Lakshmi haram’, diamond-studded crown, and other precious jewels, whose history is rooted deep in the temple legends for the royal parade on the eve of ‘Garuda seva.’ The palm-sized emerald adorned the chest of the deity was a cynosure to the eyes of the onlookers.
Earlier in the morning the magnificent procession of ‘Mohini Avataram’ was organised. The deity dressed in the costumes of goddess Mohini and majestically seated atop the exquisitely decorated ivory palanquin was taken out in a grand procession.
