LORD EXHIBITS HIS GRANDEUR DURING RADHA RANGA DOLOTSAVAM

Tirumala, 8 October 2016: The richness, majesty and grandeur of Lord Malyappa Swamy is clearly exhibited on the glittering golden chariot procession-Radharanga Dolotsavam.

After taking rides all alone on His favourite cars, Garuda and Hanumantha consecutively, the Lord took a colourful ride with His two consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi on the Swarna Ratham on Saturday evening.

All the three deities decked in silk vastrams and precious jewels, took a majestic ride on Swarna Ratham and blessed the devotees in four mada streets.

Legends say that The practice of Rathotsavam began during the period of Vijayanagara kin -Krishnadevaraya who had donated large amount of gold to the Srivari temple. The practice has been continued even today as part of the Brahmotsvam and also on some other significant festivals at Tirumala.

This 74 kgs of gold and 2900 kgs of copper were utilized in 2013 to manufacture the unique 32-foot tall ‘ratham’ which in the final stage weighs about 30 tons. Eighteen gauge copper sheet and nine layers of gold has been used in the making of this chariot, said the joint executive officer Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju, 18 goldsmiths from Tamil Nadu worked on the new ratham the contract for the new golden chariot was assigned to the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation in 1994. ‘We replaced the old ratham after complaints from the devotees that the old chariot- silver coated wooden chariot- had lost its glitter and looks ‘he said.

TTD Chairman Dr Ch Krishnamurthy, TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao, JEOs Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju, Sri Pola Bhaskar, TTD Trust Board Members Sri AV Ramana, Sri DP Anantha, Dr Hari Prasad, Sri Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, Sri G Bhanuprakash Reddy, Sri Krishnamurthy, Sri Sekar, Sri Narsa Reddy, Smt Suchitra Ella, Temple DyEO Sri Rama Rao, Peishkar Sri R Selvam, TTD Officials and devotees took part.