NAMA SANKEERTANA, YAKSHAGANA AND PUPPET SHOWS STEAL THE LIME LIGHT DURING BTUs-SO ALL PROJECTS

Tirumala, 9 October 2016: The Srivari annual brahmotsavams at Tirumala, set a stage to perform age old cultural and devotional art forms and revived ancient arts once again with their outstanding performances both at Tirumala and in Tirupati.

INVOLVING PILGRIMS IN NAMA SANKEERTANA:

Unique from the routine, this year, the TTD has also involved the pilgrims in the devotional wave by making them to chant Govinda Namas and other bhajans while they are waiting in the galleries to catch the glimpse of Lord on the day of Garuda Vahana Seva. Briefing the same to media persons the Special Officer of All Projects, Sri N Muktheswara Rao, said, “About 30-35 cultural troupes were drawn from HDPP, Annamayya project, Dasa Sahitya project who participated daily in the various cultural activities at all locations – Four mada streets, Nada Niranjanam, Asthana Mandapam in Tirumala and Mahati, Annamacharya Kalamandiram and Shilparamam at Tirupati. “We provided a colorful bouquet of bhajnans, classical and instrumental music,folk arts like Chakka bhajans, Kolatas, Tolubommalata and Visesha Vesha dharana of mythological deities etc. and kept the pilgrims hooked with our novel programmes’, said Sri Rao.

MELATTUR BHAGAVATA MELA:

He said in all nearly 700 artistes from AP, Karnataka,Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharastra etc. participated in the nine-day long event. Special focus was on programs at Nada Niranjanam and mada streets .’We trained the artistes on showcasing their skills and also in their performances on the huge platform. In Mahati auditorium at Tirupati, the 500-year old art form of Tanjavur, Melattur Bhagavata Mela which is similar to our Yakshagana Sampradaya was performed which won accolades from art lovers. It if from this traditional art, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi dance forms are said to have emerged”. said Sri N Mukteswar Rao who toiled for over three months in selection of teams and formulating new concepts for Brahmotsavam.

THEMATIC VESHADHARANA

The SO who is In-charge of the HDPP and also all other devotional programs of TTD says that this time the cultural programs were well designed for each of the Vahanam .’We got the dance ballets, Visesha Vesha Dharana, bhajans and other acts specially to focus on each of the Vahanams, with the objective that beyond each vahanam the devotees could visualize its importance, legacy and also its rich mythological significance.

VIRTUOUS START WITH MANGALADHWANI

The cultural programs also focused on tradition, with the day commencing with Mangaladhwani, Chaturveda parayanam, Vishnu sahasranama parayanam , dharmic upanyasam, Annammaiah Vinnapalu songs, which were telecasted live on SVBC. “Huge response has been garnered from pilgrims for Nama Sankeertana involving pilgrims from 12noon to 4pm on Garuda Seva day”, the SO expressed.

Similarly the bhajans, discourses and music and dance programs were conducted by artistes during the Unjal seva and also harikathas and bhakti sangeetam were performed at the Asthana Mandapam at Tirumala.”It is the goal of TTD to ensure that devotees would think of nothing but devotion to Lord Venkateswara during their stay at Tirumala and hence the all forms of bhakti cultural programs were displayed ‘says the TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao. He wants that similar exercises and programs should be conducted during the other festivals at Tirumala and Tirupati as well.