Hyderabad, Trinet News, September 15: The holy hills of Tirumala are decked up for the grand annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Sri Venkateswara. The divine vehicle processions (Vahana Sevas) will commence on September 15 with the traditional Dhwajarohanam ceremony. TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) has made extensive arrangements to provide special services to devotees witnessing the nine-day processions. Stringent security measures have been put in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the grand festival.
With an additional month (Adhikamasa) this year, TTD is organizing both Salakatla and Navaratri Brahmotsavams. On September 15, during the Meena Lagnam at 6:35 PM, the sacred flag (Dhwajapatam) will be hoisted on the Dhwajasthambham, invoking all deities to the Brahmotsavams. Following the Dhwajarohanam, the full-fledged Vahana Sevas will kick off at 9:00 PM with the Pedda Sesha Vahana.
TTD has made elaborate arrangements, and the Mada Streets are beautifully decorated. Repairs on the temple gopuram, ghat roads, and Pushkarini have been completed. The Mada Streets, where Lord Malayappa along with Sridevi and Bhudevi will take rides on various mounts, have been gorgeously adorned. Illumination lights have been set up on the temple gopuram and across Tirumala. To assist pilgrims attending the Vahana Sevas, special galleries andarati queue points have been established. Special focus is being laid on cleanliness and sanitation, similar to last year. Restrooms have been installed in every gallery along the Mada Streets, and German sheds have been erected around the temple.
A total of 6,300 personnel from the police and vigilance departments will be deployed for Brahmotsavams duty. TTD Additional EO Venkaiah Chowdery advised police, TTD employees, vigilance staff, and Srivari Sevaks to work in close coordination. Additionally, the TTD Horticulture Department is setting up a flower and fruit exhibition for devotees, featuring replicas of divine forms from the three mythological epochs (Yugas). This exhibition will delight pilgrims with tons of floral decorations, traditional trees, and photo galleries showcasing Tirumala's history.
Meanwhile, the grand procession of the sacred mat and rope, used for the Dhwajarohanam during the Brahmotsavams, was held with religious fervor. It is a tradition for the Forest Department to provide the mat and rope—woven from sacred Vishnu Darbha grass—to TTD every year. This Vishnu Darbha is harvested from Chelluru village in Srikalahasti mandal (reported as Yerpedu mandal) after days of hard work by forest personnel. Ahead of the Salakatla Brahmotsavams, forest officials performed special pujas for the mat and rope before bringing them to the temple. TTD officials placed them on the Sesha Vahana inside the Ranganayakula Mandapam. They will be used during the Dhwajarohanam on September 15. Signaling the start of the Brahmotsavams, the Garuda flag will be hoisted on the flag mast to invite all deities, while priests wrap the Darbha mat around the Dhwajasthambham amidst Vedic chants.
