Although many utsavas are conducted for the Lord throughout the year, the brahmotsavams which take place for nine days a year assume greatest prominence in the history of Tirumala.
There is one ceremony or the other almost daily for Lord Venkateswara manifest on Tirumala.
Different ceremonies are conducted on a grand scale for the Lord with different time frames— daily, fortnightly, monthly, and yearly. Of them, special mention may be made of annual Brahmotsavas.
Devotees go on raptures witnessing the Lord on different carriages and earnestly wait for the earliest opportunity to visit them. Brahmotsavas are conducted twice this year much to their jubilation.
Because of the addition of one month as per the Telugu Calendar, two categories of Brahmotsavas are conducted this year, namely—Salakatla and Navaratri (nine-day).
Aswa Vahana Seva
On the eighth day evening of Brahmotsavas, the Lord goes for a ride on the Horse carriage (Aswa Vahana Seva). The purpose of this ceremony is that Lord Srinivasa incarnates as Kalki on a horse at the end of Kaliyuga to punish evil and protect the good.
There is no sacred place in the Brahmanda like ‘Venkatadri’. Out of all pilgrim centers throughout the world, ‘Venkatadri’ is being considered as a unique place. Since the advent of Lord Venkateswara as ‘Swayambhu’ in Tirumala, the ‘Annual Brahmotsavams’ are being celebrated for nine days in the month of ‘Aswiyuja’ in a celestial manner.
Salakatla Brahmotsavams
But, according to Chandramana, the adhika Masam comes once in three years. Because of this, the first (Annual) Brahmotsavams to Srivaru was held in Kanya/ Bhadrapada masa, as per the arrangement made by Lord Brahma called ‘Salakatla Brahmotsavams’.
Navaratri Brahmotsavams
The second Brahmotsavams ‘Navaratri Brahmotsavams’ would be conducted in Aswiyuja masa.
Accordingly, the first (Annual) Brahmotsavams to Srivaru starts in Kanya / Bhadrapada Masam.
The second Brahmotsavam would be celebrated in the month of ‘Aswiyuja’.
The difference between these two Brahmotsavams is there would be no ‘Ankurarpana’, ‘Dwajarohanam’, and ‘Dwaja Avarohanam’ in the Navaratri (Second) Brahmotsavam.
Besides these two (Salakatla and Navaratri) Brahmotsavams, this year in September, the other festivals like
Sri Krishnastami,
Gokulastami,
Adi Varaha Jayanthi,
Vamana Jayanthi,
Balarama Jayanthi,
Sri Krishna Jayanthi and
Ananta Padmanabha Swami Vratam will appear.
Another important festival is ‘Vinayaka Chavithi’. Lord Ganesha is called ‘Adideva(remover of obstacles)’. He is always worshipped before performing any type of pooja or vratam. Let us worship all these gods and get their blessings. The Lord of the Seven Hills is the sole deity, who gives protection to all of us.
Kalpavriksha Vahanam – Annual Brahmotsavams 2018
During the auspicious days of the Brahmotsavams, Lord Venkateswara gives us his splendorous ‘darshan’, while he goes in processions on many beautifully decorated ‘Vahanas’ with multiple ornaments and garlands. It is an eye-feast to the visiting pilgrims.
Devotees waiting for the procession of Garuda Seva which usually starts @ 7 PM
This spiritual atmosphere creates bliss in the hearts of innumerable devotees. He is the only god on this earth, who can eradicate all kinds of difficulties in ‘Kali Yuga’. It is simply sufficient to participate in the holy celebrations of Lord Venkateswara with devotional and spiritual zeal.
When we chant the auspicious name ‘Govinda’, our wishes will be fulfilled. The sins that belong to our previous births also would be washed away. When we go a step forward to visit our Lord, he comes forward with ten steps to bless us.
During the Brahmotsavams one should maintain Cleanliness, Tilaka dharana, wear traditional dress, and entreat the famous Lord as ‘Nitya Kalyana Chakravarthy’.
He grants knowledge, prosperity, the power of the mind, courage, and fortitude to his devotees for the sake of the welfare of society.
Let us have the sublime ‘darshan’ of our Lord of the Seven Hills during the Brahmotsavams and get ourselves blessed with his abundant magnificence and splendor.
Once a year, the Brahmotsavams are celebrated to Lord Venkateswara. In the procession, the Lord takes a majestically reclined posture on the various ‘vahanams’ (this page is dedicated to Chinna Sesha Vahanam) offered by the deities. ‘Padakavita Pitamaha’ Annamacharya eulogizes Lord Venkateswara as ‘Tiruveedullo merese Devadevudu,’ and ‘Naanaadikkula Narulella vaanalalone vatturu.’ Lord Brahma initiates the ‘utsavams’ following the command of Lord Venkateswara.
So these ‘utsavs’ are called ‘Salakatla (Annual) Brahmotsavams.’ These ‘utsavams’ will be celebrated for ten days.
Srivari Temple
6,21,705 No of pilgrims had darshan of Lord Venkateswara
5 lakh laddus in daily buffer stock
26,55,080 Nos.laddus sold
Hundi collections stood at Rs.18,70,29,000
Foresight, and advanced preparedness for crowds, rooms, and laddus with IT initiatives paid off good dividends.
The crucial event of Brahmotsavam Garuda Vahanam passed through smoothly.
Reduction of Rs.300 Special darshan tickets and Divya darshan tokens helped.
VIP break darshan slashed to just protocol list
Separate In and out gateways at Vendi Vakili eased devotee movement.
8.36 crore special haram for Sahasranama Kasula Haram
Transport
Elaborate arrangements for 7000 four-wheeler parking at Tirumala.
Additional parking for 2500 vehicles is kept as a contingency at Devlok near Alipiri.
RTC buses did 4200 trips per day
A major feat of evacuating two lakh people in hours with 550 buses kept ready on Garuda Seva day.
Eight auto clinics geared for traffic movements on ghat roads.
0% accident and breakdown recorded
12 free buses operated in Tirumala on a 24×7 basis; About 300 trips ferrying almost 80,000 persons daily.
Tonsuring
A 24-hour tonsuring facility at all Kalyana kattas
3,06,271 devotees offered their hair in eight days of Brahmotsavams.
1400 barbers including 250 women barbers served on a shift basis.
Maha Exhibition
Photo exhibition with Past and Present pictures of Tirumala by the PR department.
Saikat Art(sand art) and antique Coin exhibition
Display of paintings and drawings by students of SV Deaf and Dumb students
The garden department put up mythological episodes with green plants, flowers, and fruits in a tasteful manner
Display by Museum, Ayurveda, Forests, etc. was a major hit.
Reception
The record number of 4000 rooms per day is kept available for occupation on a first come first serve basis.
IT initiatives of allotment and vacancy display board paid off.
Deployed 3 more Jimmy Jibs,13 HD cameras, and special guns to enhance the live coverage of the Garuda Vahanam.
Giving quality feed to all regional and national channels.
Introduced commentaries in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil in the Vahana sevas
Giving updates in a capsule on social media- Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
Vigilance
Tech-driven surveillance with gadgets- body cameras, CC cameras (640).
FINS app to identify troublemakers.
2 lakh Child tags to keep track of children during rush hours.
Command Control Centre with HD camera surveillance.
Bandobust with 2000 vigilance staff,1000 Scouts and Guides, 5400 policemen
Close coordination was maintained with the Police Department and all the Security arrangements for all Vahana Sevas, Rathotsavams, and Chakrasnanam were completed successfully, without any untoward incident.
Srivari Sevakulu
4000 Srivari Sevakulu for Brahmotsavams duty
Special duties at Srivari Temple, Anna Prasadam, Health, Parakamani and Laddu counters.
Srivari Sevakulu rendered services in over 60 locations belonging to 12 wings.
Sales Wing of Publications
The Honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Sri N Chandrababu Naidu unveiled TTD Calendar and Diary for the year 2018
20 lakhs 12-sheet calendar, 12 lakh diaries including (9lakh big and 3lakh small), 17 lakhs In-house calendar including Srivari (big), Ammavari(big), Srivari – Ammavari(small), Panchangam calendars.
These calendars and diaries are now available for sale in Tirumala and Tirupati
Twenty-two (22) publications penned by renowned scholars were released during the annual Brahmotsavams
Cultural activities
1500 artists perform cultural activities at Tirumala, Tirupati, and Four Mada streets.
Organized by artists of HDPP, Dasa Sahitya, Annamacharya Project, SV Music and Dance College.
Feast of Bhakti music, Harikathas, Folk arts, Tappeta gullu, Classical dances, Nama Sankeernas, Annamacharya Sankeertans.
Special performances in front of Vahanams on Mada streets.
Programs at Nada Niranjanam, Asthana Mandapam in Tirumala and Mahati, Annamacharya Kala Mandir and Ramakrishna Pushkarini at Tirupati
Special performances by national award-winning artists, Drum beaters from Pune, Garba dancers from Bangalore, and Artists playing episodes from Mythology at Mada streets.
Anna Prasadam
Tiffin and meals were served to pilgrims on four Mada Street galleries and the Vaikuntham queue complex from noon to late evening on Garuda Seva day.
Meals milk, coffee, tea, and snacks served to devotees on galleries.
Annaprasadam complex served devotees till1.30 AM on Garuda seva day.
Srivari Sevakulu is also served at all Food counters and the Annaprasadam complex.
Engineering Department
Spacious galleries created for the benefit of devotees at Four Mada streets to facilitate 1.80 lakh pilgrims.
Signage, Information boards, Flexi, and maps for guidance of pilgrims
More than 44 electrical theme illuminations all around Tirumala
56,000 LED bulbs were used for making all illuminations and 250 persons worked for two months.
60% of illuminations are done with LED bulbs.
30 Nos. of various size LED screens for live Telecast program
Radio and Broadcasting
Installed 19 huge LED screens on Mada streets and 11 outside Mada Street in Tirumala which facilitated devotees who could not make it into galleries to watch Vahana sevas, especially on Garuda Seva Day.
24×7 broadcasting of announcements, Bhakti Sankeertan, and Venkateswara mantras.
Unique devotee service on missing persons in all south Indian languages and Hindi.
IT Wing
Well-organized net connectivity which ensured incident-free services to pilgrims in all departments
The launch of the Telugu Version of the TTD website.
Three-day, Four-day online Srivari Seva was introduced on Garuda Seva Day on September 27
The celebration of offering umbrellas on the day of Garudotsavam has been in practice for over 180 years. This worship was started by Sri Venkata Krishnamma Setty. It has been in practice traditionally for a long time. For the preparation of umbrellas, nearly a month’s duration is required.
Usually, before two months, the process of the divine work takes its initial startup. One auspicious day is fixed during the fortnight of ‘Ashada Amavasya’ and ‘Purnima’. The material used is well-grown bamboo reapers which are to be worshipped before the making of the umbrellas.
During the making of the umbrellas, the part of the tree trunk is used to make the long post and above that, a ‘kalasa’ is placed. Bamboo reapers, silk cloth and white cloth are woven above the kalasa.
WoodWork – Bamboo- Silk – Cloth
Different parts of the umbrellas are made in different areas like Woodwork will be taken up in Chennai. The bamboo work will be done in Kanchi and the ornamental silk work will be done in Chintadripeta in Chennai.
Firstly, silk cloth is used inside the umbrella. Above that, Qualitative ‘tracade’ cloth will be used. It is then wrapped in White ‘drill’ cloth. Ornamental ‘kuchu’ designs are decorated around the umbrella.
A white cloth would be placed as a cover on the three types of cloth to protect the shining of the umbrellas during the times of procession. As soon as the umbrellas reach Tirumala, the umbrellas will be unveiled by removing the outer protecting cover. They appear radiantly to the onlookers during the procession.
The ‘kalasalu’ which were arranged above the umbrella and based below the stem of the umbrella would be smeared with gold colour to protect its scintillating effect.
Procession of Umbrellas
Followed by a musical troupe, the umbrellas will be taken in a procession in the streets of Chennapattanam. During this, the devotees offer incense, lights, ‘haarati’ and ‘naivedyam’ to the Lord.
The umbrellas reach the ‘Kalyanamandapam’ located on Kandapu Setty Street in Chennai. The ‘mandapam’ was arranged by the then Mayor of Chennapuri Sri K. Sreeramulu.
It is a rule that the ‘mandapam’ was to be used when the umbrellas were offered gloriously. During those days, the devotees who enter the ‘mandapam’ feel excited, as if they were in the presence of the Lord of Seven Hills at Tirumala.
Procession of Umbrella on Four Mada Streets, Tirumala on eve of Brahmotsavams
Special Privilege
There is a special privilege in the making of these umbrellas. A costly silk cloth is woven for the ‘Moolamurthy’ of Tirumala. It will be kept on a glass shelf and worshipped there itself. Along with the new umbrellas, the devotees bring the cloth and reach Tirumala on foot on the day of Garuda Seva.
Lord Malayappa swami comes along with these newly prepared umbrellas on the Garuda Vahana in a procession at night. Later, the ‘Moolamurthy’ is decorated with valuable silk cloth.
If one visits and serves Lord Venkateswara on the day of Garuda Seva, which is renowned for ‘Kaimkaryam’ of umbrellas, the Almighty will bless the devotees with prosperity, peace and eternal bliss.
Garuda Seva during annual Brahmotsvams at Tirumala is the most celebrated and significant seva, rendered to Lord Venkateswara in the form of (an archamurthi), who descended from ‘Vaikunta’ (Lord Mahavishnu) to protect the devotees from the sins and sufferings of Kaliyuga.
During the Garuda Seva, the most ceremonious thing is offering the new umbrellas to the Lord.
The umbrellas are of many kinds. Since time immemorial, man is accustomed for using umbrellas for some or other purpose. In ancient times, devotees used round umbrellas made of palm leaves, wild date leaves, and coconut leaves in rural areas.
In course of time, many kinds of umbrellas came into existence.
Procession of Garuda Vahanam on Mada Streets with Celestial Umbrellas
A novel thought came to the mind of man that the deities also should enjoy them.
The functions of the deities were being performed like that of the birthday, marriage, ceremonial processions etc. with the auspicious, beautiful, royal and superb presence of umbrellas.
Later to make it more attractive, they started preparing them in brass, silver and in gold and offered them to the deities. This became a part of temple ritual in due course of time.
Worship of Offering New Umbrellas
During the days of the annual Brahmotsavams, especially on the day of Garuda Seva, newly prepared and decorated umbrellas are being offered to Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala every year.
The worship of offering umbrellas will be done particularly on that day only. It had been in practice for many years. In days of yore, the facilities to organize the tradition were very limited.
They used to bring the umbrellas putting them in the bullock-carts in the light of tapers on foot. It is significant to note that this tradition is being continued by Chettiars residing at Chennai even today.
Procession of Kalpavriksha Vahanam on Mada Streets with Celestial Umbrellas
During the ‘Sravanamasa’ in Chennai the glory of ceremonial umbrellas is presented as an eye-feast to the spectators every year. For the Lord of Seven Hills, every day is a day of celebration. It is called ‘Nitya Kalyanam Paccha Thoranam.’
Among all the ‘utsavams’ the most glorious and superb ‘utsavam’ is the annual Brahmotsavams held in ‘Sravana/Bhadrapada masa’. According to Puranas, the annual Brahmotsavams were first initiated by Lord Brahma.
During the annual Brahmotsavams, the fifth day ‘utsavam’ is Garudotsavam. It is also called Garuda Seva. On this special day, the devotees come in large numbers to see Lord Venkateswara in his gorgeous sitting posture on Garuda during the procession and
rejoice.
Four small umbrellas and two big umbrellas offered to the Lord every year. The making of these ceremonial umbrellas starts a month before Garuda Seva.
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