The Tirumala town which celebrates every year the Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara kick-started on Monday with the inauguration of ‘Dhwajarohanam’ (temple flag)  inside the hill temple. The festival will be held for nine days.

The  flag consists of the sacred imprint of Lord Garuda. It was hoisted on the top of the ‘Dhwajasthambham’ (flag post) at the fixed hour of ‘Meena Lagna’ between 6.15 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. with the priests chanting Vedic hymns along with a group of Sri Vaishnavite scholars.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu offered a set of new silk clothes on behalf of the state government.He said that " first he carried the clothes on a silver plate on his head from a shrine of Lord Hanuman to the main temple and handed over the offering to the priests." The CM attended the religious procession along with his wife Bhuvaneswari.

There was a huge rush in the shrine as over one lakh devotees from all over the country came witness the sacred golden Pedda Sesha Vahana procession of Lord. Police arranged a tight security on the occasion.

A band of Kerala musicians played the rhythmic beat of the ‘Chandi melam’.This was followed by Asthanam to the lord at the mandapam.

Lord Malayappa Swamy accompanied by Anantha, Garuda, Chakratalwar and Lord Vishwaksena were taken around the Mada Streets in a grand procession.

The first vahana seva was marked with the procession of Lord Malayappa on the golden 'Pedda Sesha Vahanam' to delight the festival.

About 3,500 police personnel have been specially appointed for Brahmotsavam festival. Over 1,200 personnel will be deployed for the additional Garuda Seva. The security forces will majorly focus on facilitating the pilgrims. They will assure that all the pilgrims have a comfortable darshan, including those of the regular processions. A total of 536 CCTV cameras has been installed at various vital points t checks the moment of the pilgrims.

(Video Source: I News)

Also Read: Sindhu Visits Tirumala Along with her Coach Gopichand

BY M. DIVYA SRI