Venkateswara Brahmotsavams begin

Arjitha sevas cancelled till February 24 at Srinivasa Mangapuram temple

Grand start Priests hoisting the sacred flag during Dhwajarohanam marking the beginning of annual Brahmotsavam at Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy temple at Srinivasa Mangapuram near Tirupati on Thursday.

The nine-day annual Brahmotsavams of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy temple got off to a grand start with priests hoisting the ‘Dhwaja Patam’ in the auspicious Meena Lagnam, atop the ‘Dhwajasthambham’ of the shrine at Srinivasa Mangapuram here on Thursday.

The bejewelled deities of the Lord and His two consorts mounted on a ‘vahanam’ also symbolically witnessed the ceremony.

The ceremony began with Vedic priests chanting hymns accompanied by rhythmic beats of drums, mridangam and nadaswaram. Later, Sankalpa was rendered by TTD’s Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao and Joint EO Pola Bhaskar which was followed by the hoisting of the flag, with the image of Lord Garuda, on the temple pillar.

Earlier, Tiruchi Utsavam was performed wherein the Dhwaja Patam was brought to the temple in a procession. The temple authorities have cancelled arjitha sevas, including Swarna Pushparchana, Astottara Sata Kalasabhishekam, Tiruppavada Seva and Arjitha Kalyanotsavam from Thursday to February 24.

Floral expo

The flower exhibition organised under the aegis of the TTD’s garden wing stood as a special attraction during the event.

The expo displayed wonderful dioramas reflecting mythological themes like Sri Narasimha Swamy killing Hiranyakasipa, Sitarama vanavasam episode depicting Lakshmana cutting the nose of Surpanakha, Lord Krishna killing demon Trunavrata and Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavathi staying in the ashram of Agasthya Mahamuni after their marriage.