Curtains were drawn on the nine-day long spiritual programme Venkateswara Vaibhavotsavams conducted by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams which concluded here on Sunday.
On the last day, devotees were treated to the grandeur of a Pushpa Yagam (floral shower) ceremony in the Police Parade Grounds.
According to scriptures, the ritual is performed to pray to the Lord to save Mother Earth from natural calamities such as earthquakes, cyclones and epidemics. Legend says Pushpayagam was first performed at Tirumala in 15th Century A.D.
After the early morning sevas of Suprabhatam, Thomala and Archana , the processional replica deities of Lord Sri Malyappa Swamy, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi were seated on a special platform and Pushpayaga Mahotsavam began amidst chanting of Vedic mantras. Over seven tonnes of a wide variety of bright, traditional, ornamental and aromatic flowers were used in the festival. The Archakas initially offered the most sacred Tulasi followed by lillies and jasmine. Later, floral beds out of Ganneru, Ixora, Manu Sampangi, Chemanti, Mugali were also laid one above the other with tonnes of flowers.
TTD Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao, JEO P. Bhaskar, TTD Garden Deputy Superintendent Srinivasulu took part in the procession and festival.The festival was coordinated by TTD Dharmika Prachara mandal district unit president Tadisetty Murali Mohan .
