‘Karthika Brahmotsavams’ off to a colourful start at Tiruchanur

The nine-day annual ‘Karthika Brahmotsavams’ got off to a colourful start at the Tiruchanur Sri Padmavati Ammavari temple, here on Monday.

After Tirumala, Tiruchanur is the most popular among the group of temples managed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). ‘Tiruchi Utsavam’ was performed after the early morning rituals, when the idol of Goddess Padmavati was taken out in a procession around the temple, even as the sacred flag ‘Dhwajapatam’ was paraded on the streets. The sacred flag carries an imprint of an elephant, considered the favourite celestial carrier of Goddess Padmavati.

The flag was later hoisted during the ‘Dhwajarohanam’ ritual at 9:15 a.m., which is a symbolic invitation to the deities and demi-gods to witness the grand celestial event.

TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal, Joint Executive Officer V. Veerabrahmam, Chief Vigilance and Security Officer K.V. Muralikrishna, temple deputy executive officer Harindranath, the officiating priest for the festival (Kankana Bhattar) K. Srinivasacharyulu and priest Babu Swamy took part.

Mr. Singhal announced that elaborate arrangements have been made for the festival, especially for major crowd pullers such as ‘Gaja Vahanam’ and ‘Panchami Theertham’, observed on the fifth and ninth day respectively.

The EO later inaugurated a floral exhibition at the Friday Garden located opposite to the temple. The expo presents a variety of floral arrangements depicting various mythological episodes. In the evening, the idol was carried in a procession around the Mada streets on ‘Chinna Sesha Vahanam’, depicting a five-hooded serpent.