Date:19/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/19/stories/2006121903160600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Three-day ritual begins in Tirupati

Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI: The temple city on Monday reverberated with the chanting of `Govindanama' and beats of percussion instruments as scores of bhajan troupes comprising more than 3,000 Haridasas clad in traditional attire danced their way down the streets from the Govindarajaswamy temple here. Devotees from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra are participating in the 3-day festivities, said P.R. Ananda Theerthacharya, Special Officer of the TTD's Dasa Saahithya Project.

The highlight of the programme would be the mass trekking of the Tirumala footpath by the Haridasas after pre-dawn rituals at the foot of the hills, Alipiri.