AMERICAN, SPANISH AND THAI FRUITS IN SRIVARI SEVA

Tirumala: September 19: Green grapes (US) and Peaches ( Spain) Blue berries from Thailand and Yellow grapes from South Africa. Garlands made of straw berries, chrysanthemum and Orchids.

The donor devotees from Tiruppur and decorators Chennai surprised everyone by creating a canopy of fruits by using a variety of fruits including Strawberry(100 baskets), green apple(5000 units), red banana(5000 units) ,red apple( 20,000) sugar cane( 4000) and Maize( 5000).

These fruits were the surprise display at the Snapana Thirumanjanam ritual conducted in the Srivari temple at Tirumala as part of the ongoing Brahmotsavam-2015. Not just garlands , a massive green canopy made out of Strawberry, green apple, red banana ,red apple sugar cane, and Maize etc spread over 5×10 umbrealla space over the utsava deities of Sridevi, Malayappaswami and Bhoodevi enthralled the devotees and pilgrims.

The fruit decorations were showcased at the Thirumanjanam during the 2, 3rd and fourth day of the Brahmotsavam. he Vaishnava symbols of chakra and Shanku decked up with white, red and green beans were also placed atop the green fruit canopy. ‘The objective is to display that the Lord Venkateswara was very close to nature and the rituals were performed in natural surroundings ‘says the Agama exponent Venkata Chari who performed the Snapana Thirumanjanam under the watchful eye of the Pedda Jeeyar.

The rest of the 80 square feet space of Rangayakula mandapam where the hoary and holy ritual is performed during the Brahmotsavam also sparkled with sweet smell of green fruits and scent of flowers.‘For the first time we had fruits from US and Spain ‘, said the garden Deputy director Sri Srinivasulu.

Flower and fruit decorations are showcased during the Brahmotsavam at the ritual of Thirumanjanam and also the decorations at the Srivari temple, social medians and the exhibitions.‘ We have been presenting variety of flowers at the ritual in the past, but for the first time we have introduced the fruit decorations ‘he says. Nearly 250-300 kgs of fruits were utilized for decorations. Even the deities were decked up with garlands of strawberries and crowns of orchids Jajikai, Apricots, Yellow Rolls, and also dates, well known as the favorites of the Lord Venkateswara.

Most of the flowers and fruits were donated by some devotees of Tamil Nadu.

‘We witnessed such fruit decorations in some temple and wanted to replicate here at Tirumala ‘says Gururaja, in charge of the Bokkasam, the jewels of the Lord.

Other prominent exotic fruits used in the decorations at the Ranganayakula mandapam were blue berries(Thailand),Yellow grapes( south Africa),dragon fruits ,plums, Anjur grapes, Amla, strawberries ,white berries, green grapes( US), Green apple, sugar cane, bananas. The lord was adorned with crowns (kiritam) made of strawberries, orchids and other exotic flowers and fruits during the celestial event.

The entire celestial event was telecast by the SVBC channel for the benefit of the devotees and pilgrims.

ISSUED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TTDs TIRUPATI