TEPPOTSAVAMS OFF TO A COLOURFUL START IN SRI TT

Tirumala, 8 March 2017a: The Sita, Lakshmana, Anjaneya sametha Lord Sri Rama was taken out on a celestial procession on the finely decorated float on the waters of Swamy Pushkarini in the pleasant evening of Wednesday in Tirumala.

It is in this unique festival the processional deities, will be taken out on the glittering and colorfully decorated floats in the Swami Pushkarini commencing on the Ekadasi day of Palguna month every year in the evening hours.

The holy float festival made its beginning in 1468 when the Saluva King Narasimha raya built the Nirali Mandapam amidst the Swami Pushkarini. As per the tradition the Utsava idols in the Sri Ramachandra murthy along with Goddess Sita and Lakshmana Swamy will go around three rounds on the first day in the holy temple tank.

On the first day the processional deities of Lord Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya were taken round the Pushkarani Teertha seated on the well decorated float in three rounds after 7pm.

The Teppa Utsavam (Float Festival/Plavotsavam) is celebrated as an Arjitha Seva. Pilgrims shall participate in this utsavam by purchasing the tickets and after this festival arjitha seva ticket holders have the darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy, inside the Tirumala temple.

In view of the unique and glittering Float festival, TTD has cancelled arjitha sevas including vasanthotsavam and Sahasra deepalankarana sevas on March 8 and 9 and arjitha brahmotsavam, Vasantotsavam and Sahasradeepalankara sevas on March 10,11 and 12.

TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao, JEO Tml Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju, TTD Trust Board Member Sri G Bhanuprakash Reddy, Temple DyEO Sri Rama Rao, Parpathyedar Sri Ramachandra, VGO Sri Raveendra Reddy and large number of devotees took part.