Tirumala Brahmotsavams begin with Dhwajarohanam ceremony
The annual nine-day Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara commenced at Tirumala with the traditional Dhwajarohanam, followed by an Asthanam for the deities.
The nine-day annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala commenced on Tuesday with the traditional Dhwajarohanam, the ceremony that formally inaugurates the festival at the hill shrine.
A sacred yellow cloth bearing the imprint of Lord Garuda was hoisted atop the Dwajastambham, the temple flag post, during the auspicious Meena Lagnam between 6.21 p.m. and 6.35 p.m. The ritual was conducted amid the chanting of hymns and the Garuda Gadyam by a group of Sri Vaishnavite scholars, accompanied by the beats of temple drums.
Earlier in the day, the festivities opened with a grand procession of Lord Malayappa Swamy and His two consorts through the mada streets encircling the hill shrine. The procession was accompanied by the parivara devathas, including Anantha, Garuda and Viswaksena.
In temple mythology, Garuda, the celestial carrier of Lord Maha Vishnu, circumambulates the temple complex to extend a divine invitation to heavenly beings, sages, Gandharvas, Kinneras and Kimpurushas to take part in the nine-day spectacle.
The Dhwajarohanam was followed by an Asthanam for the deities at the Tirumalaraya Mandapam inside the temple. Temple pontiffs, Kankanabhattar Venkata Raghava Deekshitulu, Executive Officer Muddada Ravichandra, members of the board of trustees and temple officials were present on the occasion.