AFTER “ABHISHEKA SEVA” OF MULVIRAT, SVV CONCLUDES WITH “PUSHPAYAGAM” YAGAM

A COLOURFUL VISUAL TREAT TO THE DEVOTEES DURING “PUSHPAYAGAM”

OVER FIVE LAKHS WITNESS THE CELESTAIL FESTIVAL DURING THE LAST SEVEN DAYS-JEO P BHASKAR

HYDERABAD, FEBRUARY 12: Even before the denizens come out of the magical charm of Abhisheka Seva of Lord, the colourful Pushpaya Mahotsavam which followed the sacred bath, mesmerised them further.

The seven-day celestial fete of the fifth phase of Sri Venkateswara Vaibhavotsavams came to a ceremonious conclusion with the floral festival-Pushpayagam which provided a colourful feast for the eyes of tens of thousands of devotees who converged in the spacious NTR Stadium here on Friday.

RELIGIOUS IMPORTANCE: This religious fete in Tirumala is usually performed after annual Brahmotsavam in the asterism of Sravana Nakshatram, which also happens to be the birth star of Lord Venkateswara, usually in the month of Krittika as per Hindu calendar which falls during October or November.

SIN-FREE FESTIVAL: There is also an age old belief that after performing a mega religious event, to overcome the commissions and omissions committed either knowingly or unknowingly by archakas, temple staff and devotees, this yagam is performed to wipe off the sins.

APPEASE MOTHER NATURE: As per the ancient scriptures, this festival is usually performed to save Mother Earth from natural calamities such as quakes, cyclones, epidemics and appease the Lord to save the ecology from all catastrophes.
This festival which was in vogue in 15th Century, was reinstated by TTD on November 14 in the year 1980.

FLORAL BATH WITH FOUR TONNES OF FLOWERS:

Over five tonnes of varieties of flowers were brought to the stadium in a celestial procession earlier during the day on Sunday morning.

Later the Utsava Murthies of Lord Sri Malayappa Swamy, flanked by His two Consorts,Sri Devi and Bhu Devi were seated on a finely decorated floral Mandapam and later they were given a celestial floral bath with tonnes of 12 varieties of traditional flowers and aesthetic flowers including Chamanti, Lily, Rose, Nandivardhanam, Kanakambaram, Malli, Vrukshi, Lotus, Kaluva, Tulasi, Panner leaves, Mogali, Maruvam and Davanam.

As soon as every floral variety of flower reached the height of the chest of the idols, they were removed and a floral bath was again given to the deities with next variety of flower and the same was repeated for 21 times amidst chanting of hymns till multi layered floral beds were formed.

The devotees were mused and delighted to see this unique religious fete with enthusiasm. Every inch of the stadium was occupied by devotees who thronged the NTR stadium to catch a glimpse of this awesome fete.