English
New Delhi, May 12: Decked up with flowers, lights, Tirupai Balaji temple in the national capital is abuzz with devotees celebrating Brahmotsavams. The annual function is a major festival of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams with each day having its own significance. While the festival is celebrated during Dussehra in Andhra Pradesh, it is being celebrated in the month of May here as the temple was inaugurated in this month in 2013.
The function started with Ankurarpanam on May 7 evening and will end with Pushpayagam on May 17 evening. The major functions are Dhwajarohanam, Kalyanotsavam, Chakrasanam and Pushpayagnam. The major function of Kalyanotsavam in which the marriage ceremony is being conducted will take place on May 13. “Each day has a different seva and the god along with his wives are being taken on a new chariot,” Deputy Executive Engineer G Ramakrishna Rao said.
According to Hindu mythology, the ritual was first conducted by Lord Brahma to thank Lord Tirupati Balaji. The festival is being organised every year and thousands of devotees take part in it. The temple in New Delhi’s Kalibari Marg was constructed by TTD and the function is being managed by it. “Around 20 priests have come from TTD and is being led by K Srinivas Acharya of Padmavati temple. All the clothing, jewellery and staff are also being sent by the TTD,” Rao said. When asked about the expenditure of the festival, it is expected to be around Rs 10-12 lakh and is being borne by the TTD.
Everyday, the function begins at 5:30 am and continue till 9:30 am in which a procession is being taken out. There is abhishekam every afternoon and is followed by unjal seva (jhoola utsav), procession and sayyan. “14 varities of prasadam is being served everyday which includes curd rice, tamarind rice, sugar candy rice, jalebi, ladoo, sooji halwa.”
During the festival, hundreds of devotees visit the temple everyday and it is expected to be around 800-1000 during weekends. In order to avoid any untowards incident, a team of policemen travel along the procession. “So far, there has been no issue. We keep a close watch as chain snatching is most rampant. Traffic is easily co-ordinated,” said a constable.
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