Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

2,000 couples to tie the knot

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI March 3. Two thousand couples are expected to tie the marital knot at Sri Kalahasti before the daybreak on Tuesday to coincide with the `Kalyanotsavam' ceremony to be held at the Sri Kalahasti temple as part of the on-going annual Brahmotsavams.

It is an age-old custom in these parts to take the hand of one's bride and tie the `Mangalasutram' exactly at the time when Lord Sri Kalahasteeswara marries Goddess Gnana Prasunambika during the Kalyanotsavam. The `muhurtham' has been set between 3 a.m. and 4.30 a.m. early on Tuesday morning.

While the Lord's wedding would be held in the temple, that of the devotees would be on the roads around the shrine. Couples would have to squat on the Tirupati-Nellore highway throughout during the ceremony. Roads around the temple have already been cleared for the purpose and police have been asked to guard the area to manage the crowd.

The Lord's wedding ritual starts by 11.30 p.m. tonight when couples start arriving at the temple vicinity in the traditional wedding attire. Normally, people marry on the occasion as part of their vow and in some cases those who cannot afford to get married in all grandeur join the mass marriage.

It is for the first time that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management has decided to present a set of `silk vasthrams' to the Lord. The TTD Executive Officer, Ajeya Kallam, is expected to carry the `vasthrams' to Sri Kalahasti to be presented to Lord Siva.

Meanwhile, the Float festival conducted on Sunday night attracted a huge crowd, mostly children.

The bursting of sparklers and firecrackers by specialists drawn from Rajamundry kept the locals spellbound.

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