The rare mix of flowers of varying hues added to the spiritual ecstasy that marked the ‘Pushpa Yagam’ performed at Sri Kalyana Venkateswara temple in Srinivasa Mangapuram here on Sunday.
The ritual is performed to ward off the evil effects of commission or omission of any act by foresight by officials, priests, temple staff or devotees in the temple. The ritual became mandatory after the recent successful conduct of annual Brahmotsavam.
Priests offered 12 varieties of flowers such as marigold, tulasi, ganneru, mogili, sampangi, rose and lily, besides six varieties of leaves to the deities of the Lord and His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. A whopping five tonnes of flowers were used for the ritual, of which three tonnes were brought from Tamil Nadu and one each procured from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
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‘Snapana Tirumanjanam’ was performed in the noon, wherein the deities were given a celestial bath with turmeric, sandal, milk, curd, honey, rose water and fruits. ‘Unjal Seva’ was performed in the evening, after which the deities were taken in a procession around the temple.