DEITIES TAKE FLORAL BATH DURING “PUSHPAYAGAM”

DELHIITES EXPERIENCE COLOURFUL VISUAL TREAT

SVV CONCLUDES ON A GRAND NOTE IN COUNTRY’S CAPITAL

LAKHS WITNESS THE CELESTAIL FESTIVAL DURING NINE-DAYS

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 8: The nine-day celestial fete of the fourth phase of 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 Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Sunday.

RELIGIOUS IMPORTANCE: This religious fete in Tirumala is usually performed after annual Brahmotsavam on the asterism of Sravanam 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.

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.

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 FIVE 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 including Chamanti, lily, rose, Nandivardhanam, Tulasi, Ixora, Nerium, Maruvam and Davanam.

As soon as every floral variety 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 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. On the other hand several thousands of people are leant to have witnessed this floral festival as every inch of the stadium was occupied by devotees.

while the total number of devotees who thronged the venue during this nine day fete is said to have reached a million mark. While the offerings made by the devotees in Hundi collected almost one crore mark for the nine days.

Union Ministers Sri M Venkaiah Naidu, TTD Board Chief Dr Ch Krishnamurthy, Board Member Sri Bhanuprakash Reddy, Tirupati JEO Sri P Bhaskar and other officials were also present.


ISSUED BY TTD PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TIRUPATI