Brahmotsavams Commence at Tirumala

TIRUMALA: The annual nine-day Salakatla Brahmotsavams commenced with Dhwajarohanam amid Vedic chants at the Venkateswara temple here on Friday evening. Dhwajarohanam was conducted near Nadimi Padi Kavili inside the temple complex.

Temple priests hoisted the celestial flag atop the temple pillar between 5.36 pm and 6 pm. Chief priest AV Ramana Dikshitulu and other pandits chanted hymns and conducted the half-an-hour-long ritual.

According to mythology, Garuda, the vehicle  of Venkateswara Swamy, goes to the Devalokam to invite Brahma, Indra, Yama, Agni, Kubera and Vayudeva and sapta rishis to participate in the nine-day spectacular event. After hoisting the flag, Naivedyam was offered at Balipeetham and distributed to the congregation around the Dhwajasthambam. The prasadam offered at that time is considered very sacred.

Specified Authority chairman Jagadish Chandra Sharma, executive officer MG Gopal, joint executive officers K S Srinivasa Raju and Pola Bhaskar, CV&SO G Srinivas, ACVSO Sivakumar Reddy and others were present.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, accompanied by his family members, offered Silk Vastrams to Lord Venkateswara on behalf of the state government and participated in the Pedda Sesha Vahana Seva, the first of the sevas. The Lord was taken around the four Mada Streets in the Pedda Sesha Vahanam.