“LORD OF RICHES” SITS ON “FLORAL MOUNTAIN” DURING PUSHPAYAGAM

CURTAINS DOWN FOR THE NINE DAY RELIGIOUS FIESTA IN GUNTUR

OVER TEN LAKH DENIZENS WITNESS ALL THE ARJITHA SEVAS DURING VENKATESWARA VAIBHAVOTSAVAMS

GUNTUR, APRIL 19: “Enchanted, Charmed, Delighted, Enthralled, Mesmerized, Bewitched….you have to fetch the words in the Dictionary to describe the grandeur of the “Floral Bath”-‘Pushpa Yagam’ festival that was held in the spacious Police Parade Grounds in Guntur which has captivated the spectators who thronged the venue on Sunday.

With this colourful celestial fete, the nine-day long spiritual programme of Venkateswara Vaibhavotsavams conducted under the aegis of TTD has come to a spectacular conclusion.

IMPORTANCE OF PUSHPA YAGAM:

Immense importance is attached to the festival, which according to scriptures, this is observed to pray the Lord to save Mother Earth from natural calamities such as earthquakes, cyclones and epidemics. Legend says Pushpayagam was first performed in Tirumala in 15th Century AD.

GRAND FLORAL TRIBUTE TO LORD:

After the early morning sevas of Suprabhatam, Thomala and Archana, the processional replica deities of Lord Sri Malyappa Swamy, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi were seated on a special platform and Pushpayaga Mahotsavam began amidst the chanting of veda mantras.

Over seven tonnes of a wide variety of bright, traditional, ornmanental and aromatic flowers were used in the festival. The Archakas initially offered the most sacred “Tulasi” followed by Lillies and Jasmine. Later floral beds out of Ganneru, Ixora, Manu Sampangi, Chemanti, Mugali were also laid one above other with tonnes of baskets of flowers.

PROCESSION OF FLOWERS:

Earlier these sacred flowers were brought in a procession to the venue from Police Kalyana Mandapam in Guntur. TTD EO Dr D Samba Siva Rao, JEO Sri P Bhaskar, TTD Garden Deputy Superintendent Sri Srinivasulu took part in this procession and festival.

The celestial floral bath took place under the supervision of the Agama Scholar of TTD Dr Sundaravadanacharyulu. Before culminating the celestial fete which lasted for almost two and a half hours from 9am to 11:30am on Sunday, the priests chanted the hymns from Rig, Sukla Yajur, Krishna Yajur, Sama and Adharvana Vedas.

When the religious fete was underway, tens of thousands of eyes have been witnessing the celestial beauty of the deities without blinking their eyes fearing that they might miss the glory of the “Lord of Riches” even for a fraction of a second. Every inch of the police parade ground has been occupied by the devotees who took part in the celestial fete with utmost devotion.

Honourable MP Sri Rayapati Samba Siva Rao, former TTD EO Sri PVRK Prasad and others were also present.

ISSUED BY TTDs PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TIRUPATI