Chakrasnanam brings Tirumala Brahmotsavams to a close
The nine-day Brahmotsavams at Tirumala concluded with Chakrasnanam, as devotees took a holy dip in the Pushkarini and the Garuda flag was lowered in the evening.
The nine-day annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara concluded at Tirumala on Wednesday with the performance of Chakrasnanam, which drew large numbers of devotees to the temple tank for the final ritual.
In the early hours, the processional deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy, along with his two consorts and Lord Chakrathalwar, were carried in a ceremonial procession to the temple of Lord Bhu Varahaswamy on the banks of the Pushkarini.
Priests chanted Vedic hymns as they performed Thirumanjanam for the deities. At the appointed muhurtam, the idol of Chakrathalwar was immersed in the waters of the tank, marking the traditional end of the festival.
Devotees who had gathered on the steps of the Pushkarini responded in large numbers, plunging into the tank for a holy dip as the immersion took place, giving the occasion an atmosphere of intense religious fervour.
The Brahmotsavams began on September 15 and featured a series of grand processions in which Lord Malayappa Swamy was taken out on different vahanams over the nine days, attracting pilgrims from across the country.
In the evening, the festivities formally drew to a close with Dwajavarohanam, the ceremonial lowering of the Garuda flag from atop the temple Dwajasthambam.