GRAND CELEBRATIONS OF TIRUMALA THEERTHOTSAVAMS- TIRUMALA JEO SRI KS SREENIVASA RAJA

Tirumala,24 January 2016: The mukkoti festival of all the spiritual and holy springs in Seshachalam forest range around tirumala will be celebrated in a grand manner as Tirumala Thirthotsavams, JEO Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju said today.

The Mukkoti Festival at Ramakrishna Theertham was celebrated in full spiritual and devotional fever today and the JEO Sri Raju took lead in distributing Anna Prasadam to the devotees who had gathered around.

speaking on the occasion the JEO said that Ramakrishna Theertham said to have been created by the Maharshi Ramakrishna with his ascetic powers was one of the holiest among the Seven theerthams in the Sapthagiri hill ranges. It is an annual feature to celebrate the Ramakrishna Mukkoti on the Pournami day at the dawn of Pushya nakshatra in the Makara month. The TTD had had deployed the staff of Forest, health and Vigilance( security) ahead for making all arrangements for the festival, he said.

TTD organised wooden ladders, rope ways and also removed thorny bushes on the difficult forest route for the facilitating the devotees .Nearly 10,000 packets of snacks and food were kept ready in covers at the Papavinasam dam for the devotees.Two ambulances of 108 were also organised for emergencies ; Devotees turned up in large numbers for bathing at Ramakrishna Theertham and darshan of Lord Rama and Sri Krishna, said the JEO adding that more facilities will be made at the Mukkoti Festival of Theerthams in future as sought by the devotees.

The Ramakrishna Theertham Mukkoti festival attracted large number of devotees who trekked a four km forest path from Papavinasam dam site. They were thrilled by the tall trees, picturesque green scenes around in the forest range and the one and half km walk in the valley of hill ranges was described as a immemorable experience by many. Both children and aged devotees trekked the path with Govind namam on their lips.The devotees from the Tamil Nadu villages around dominated the crowds.

The devotees were happy with the arrangements made by the TTD with wooden ladders at slippery grounds, stocking of first aid medicine and also water packets at every turns and junctions in the forest path. Earlier, flower baskets, puja material and also holy umbrellas were taken out from the Vaibhavotsava mandpam to the beating of holy drums. The idols of Rama, Krishna were bathed in holy water, honey, milk, sandal and curd by the archakas. After special rituals and pujas the prasadam was distributed among the devotees.

Among others who participated in the holy event were Additional CV& SO Sri Shiva Kumar Reddy, DyEO Sri Venugopal, Peishkar Sri Selvam, Catering officer Sri Shastri, and temple priests.