Elaborate arrangements made for the 9-day festival which begins tomorrow
The stage is set for grand conduct of the nine-day annual ‘Salakatla Brahmotsavam’ of Lord Venkateswara, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams ( TTD ) Executive Officer L.V. Subramanyam said on Sunday.
Speaking to media persons Mr. Subramanyam said elaborate arrangements have been made for the visiting devotees during the festival which is scheduled for a ceremonious start with Dwajarohanam (hoisting of temple flag) on Tuesday evening. It will be followed by the customary presentation of a pair of ‘silk vastrams’ by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on behalf of the State government.
Processions of the Lord will be organised twice everyday.
Brochures on the significance of the deity, importance of the place and the daily processions along with details of hundreds of sacred teerthams that exist in and around the temple town will be distributed among the devotees.
Religious and cultural programmes will be organised in a big way both at Tirumala and Tirupati under the aegis of the TTD’s Dharma Prachara Parishad besides devotional concerts.
Devotees desirous of offering ‘Harati’ during the daily processions should mandatorily turn up in traditional dhoti and saris.
Security arrangements
Maintenance of hygienic surroundings and provision of quality food along with tight security will be accorded top priority. For the benefit of devotees who cannot make their way to the temple town during the Brahmotsavam the TTDs Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel will provide live coverage of all the religious events on the nine days.
Tirumala-based Joint Executive Officer K.S. Srinivasa Raju said that the temple management has dispensed with the performance of all the daily sevas during the festival period. The management also has cancelled the issuance of Rs. 50 darshan tickets on Dwajarohanam (Sept.18) and Garuda Seva (Sept. 22 ). Even the Rs. 300 special entry tickets will be issued depending on the turnout in the pilgrim crowd.
Prime focus will be on the common devotees and Dharma Darshan which invariably will commence as early as 6 a.m. and end at midnight every day.
Chief Minister to present a pair of ‘silk vastrams’ to the presiding deity on behalf of the State Religious and cultural programmes to be held in a big way both at Tirumala and Tirupati
