TIRUMALA: Thousands of devotees were mesmerised by the splendour of Lord Malayappa Swamy riding Surya Prabha Vahanam on Friday morning, the seventh day of the ongoing annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala.
Resplendent in the golden rays of the of Sun, Lord Malayappa Swamy was worshipped by scores of devotees, believing that the sun rays reflected from Surya Prabha Vahanam of the Lord contain blessings of the Lord and will help one attain enlightenment.
Later in the night, Lord Malayappa Swamy was taken out on Chandra Prabha Vahanam. The cool rays of the moon reflected from Chandra Prabha Vahanam are said to contain curative powers. Several devotees vied with one another to bathe in those rays while offering prayers to the Lord.
Members of various cultural troupes from across the country performed dancing during the procession to enthral devotees converged at Tirumala. Meanwhile, TTD officials reviewed the arrangements being made for Rathotsavam of Lord Venkateswara on Saturday morning, the penultimate day of the Brahmotsavams.
94% occupancy ratio in last seven days
Tirumala: “The occupancy ratio was almost 94 per cent. The rooms were allotted to devotees in a transparent manner in the last seven days at Tirumala during Brahmotsavams,” Reception Wing Dy EO Haridranath has said.Briefing the media over the arrangements made by the reception wing for Brahmotsavams, he said, “In all, 4,000 rooms of all categories have been kept ready and even donors were not entertained for advance booking.”
TTD EO apologises
Tirumala: TTD EO Anil Kumar Singhal and his sons, Tirumala JEO K S Srinivasa Raju and CVSO Ake Ravikrishna climbing onto Swarna Ratham of Lord Venkateswara after the procession of Swarna Ratham on Thursday raised several eyebrows. No one, except priests after performing necessary ablutions are permitted on the Swarna Ratham to perform rituals during the procession. However ignorant of the rules, TTD EO and others climbed the golden chariot. The TTD JEO apologised stating that he got to know only later that they were not supposed to be on the chariot.
