Date:23/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/23/stories/2004092305920300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Others

`Surya Prabha vahanam' organised at Tirumala

By Our Staff Reporter

Malayappa, the processional deity of Lord Venkateswara, is being taken around as part of Brahmotsavams in Tirumala on Wednesday

TIRUMALA, SEPT. 22. "Surya Prabha vahanam" was organised at the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara, on the seventh day on Wednesday and as part of the ongoing annual nine-day Brahmotsavams of the Lord.

The processional deity of Lord Malayappa Swamy mounted atop the celestial silver Surya Prabha was taken around the mada streets . Thousands of pilgrims witnessed the colourful festival, that lasted more than two hours.

As part of the festival, `Snapana Tirumanjanam' was performed to the processional deities at Ranganayakula Mandapam inside the temple complex on Wednesday.

Special rituals

Earlier, special rituals like Koluvu, Panchanga Sravanam, Ekantha Thirumanjanam and Visesha Samarpana were performed inside the temple, in the small hours.

Later, in the evening, the Kalyana Katta personnel carried the `golden umbrella' around the holy shrine, in a grand procession.

It would be fixed atop the sixty-foot-high, majestic wooden chariot which would be pulled around the temple complex on Thursday morning, on the eve of `Rathotsavam' (car festival).

The day-long festival concluded with the procession of the `Chandra Prabha' vahanam in the night.

The processional deity adorned with rare jewels and special attires was taken around the mada streets.

The temple `hundi' netted Rs. 46.42 lakhs on Tuesday and the proceeds received by way of sale of tickets and laddus were Rs. 15 lakhs and Rs. 7.40 lakhs respectively, while more than 43,000 pilgrims had darshan of Lord. According to the Alipiri tollgate records, more than 63,000 pilgrims reached Tirumala in APSRTC buses and private vehicles.