Teppotsavam / Float Festival / Teppa Tirunallu
‘Teppotsavam’ (Float festival) is a Hindu religious festival used to celebrate in the temples in many parts of South India, especially in Tirumala and Tiruchanur. It is called ‘Tirupalli Odai Tirunal’ in Tamil. It is also called ‘Teppa Tirunallu’ in Telugu. (Float means boat or ship)
Sri Tirumala Swami is comfortably seated in a well-decorated float and enjoys a float trip on the day of the float festival.
It is known that these float festivals have been celebrated from time immemorial. Sri Saluva Narasimha constructed a ‘mandap’ amid ‘Swami Pushkarini’ in 1468 to celebrate these festivals. This ‘mandap’ is called ‘Neeraali mandap’.
‘Nivedana’ was being offered to the Lord during the stay in the mandap in those days. These festivals were being held especially on the day of Sankranthi, on Kanuma (the day after Sankranthi) during the Brahmotsavs and on some other different special occasions.
Sri Annamaiah (Telugu poet and staunch devotee of Lord Srinivasa) belonged to the 15th century eulogized the sanctity and significance of the float festival and the glory of the Swamipushkarini.
Pedda Tirumalaiah made a successful attempt for the repairs and the cleanliness of the ‘Neeraali Mandap’ and the ‘Swamipushkarini’.
Oh! Lord! why do You like this float
You are rich and resplendent in this float
In the Milk of Ocean Your posture on Adisesha floating
Reminds one of Your resting posture on a banyan leaf floating
The Mandhara mountain in the Ocean for nectar floats
The hoods of Kaalinga with Your Feet floats
Your dance in the river Yamuna on these hoods floats
The sweat of sixteen thousand gopikas are like floats
In the great ‘koneru’ the Lord floats during this festival
Oh! Lord! Every year we extol this festival
– Annamaiah’s Adhyatmasankeerthana – 143
(Vol. -2-1981)
These regular festivals came to a standstill for reasons unknown. Sri Mahant Prayaga Das took the initiative for the continuation of these festivals in the year 1921 i.e. on Phalguna Suddha Ekadasi in Telugu year Durmati for five days. Since that day, these festivals have been performed regularly and grandly.
At present these festivals are being celebrated in the month of Phalguna every year for five days i.e., from Suddha Ekadasi to Pournami. Usually, these festivals are held in March / April.
During the five-day float festival, on the first day of Ekadasi at 6 p.m. followed by the traditional courtesies of the temple like the holding of Chatra (Umbrella) and Chamara (Fan) the archamurthies of Sri Sitarama Lakshmana swami start from the temple and reach the ‘Swami Pushkarini’ through maha pradakshana path of the temple and occupy the well-decorated float.
These ‘murthies’ make three rounds in the celestial ambience of scintillating lights, the tunes of the auspicious musical instruments, and listening to the ‘keerthanas’ of Sri Annamaiah. The devotees rejoiced on seeing the glorious occasion sitting on the steps of the ‘Swami Pushkarini’.
On the first day
On the first day after the three circumambulations, ‘Nivedana’ and ‘Harathi’ will be offered to the ‘utsava murthies’. The devotees of the Arjit (Paid) Seva are being given the ‘vastra bahumanam’. The ‘utsava murthies’ Sri Sitarama Lakshman swami occupy the palanquin with the traditional courtesies and go back to the temple. Thus, the float festival comes to an end on the first day.
On the Second day
On the second day i.e., on Dwadasi, Lord Krishna and His consort Rukmini after the three circumambulations, ‘Nivedana’ and ‘Harathi’ will be offered to the ‘utsava murthies’
The utsava murties’ of Sri Rukmini with Lord Krishna occupy the palanquin with the traditional courtesies and go back to the temple. Thus, the float festival comes to an end on the second day.
On the Third day
On the third day i.e., on Trayodasi, Lord Malayappa Swami with His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi after the three ‘circumambulations’, ‘Nivedana’ and ‘Harathi’ will be offered and occupy the palanquin with the traditional courtesies amid scintillating lights, listening to the tunes of the auspicious musical instruments, the Vedic chants and in the bright sounds of burning fireworks and go back to the temple.
Thus, the float festival ends on the third day.
On the Fourth day
On the fourth day Lord Malayappa Swami with His consorts Sri Devi and Bhudevi after five ‘circumambulations’, occupies the palanquin with the traditional temple courtesies. ‘Nivedana’ and ‘Harathi’ will be offered and go back to the temple. Thus, the float festival ends on the fourth day.
On the Fifth day
On the fifth day Lord Malayappa Swami with His consorts Sri Devi and Bhudevi after the seven ‘circumambulations’, occupies the palanquin with the traditional courtesies. ‘Nivedana’ and ‘Harathi’ will be offered and go back to the temple. Thus, the float festival ends on the fifth day.
Float festivals of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams in its affiliated temples
Tirupati – Sri Govindarajaswami Temple
The float festival is celebrated in the month of ‘Maaga’ in the star of ‘Pournami’ day. This ritual was celebrated for 7 days.
- On the 1st day float festival was celebrated to Sri Kodandarama Swami;
- On the 2nd day to Parthasaradhi Swami;
- On the 3rd day to Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami;
- On the 4th day to Sri Krishnaswami and Andal Devi;
- On the 5th, 6th & 7th days to Sri Govindaraja Swami.
Nagalapuram – Sri Vedanarayanaswami Temple
The float festival was celebrated in the month of ‘Meena’ for five days.
On the first day float festival will be performed to Sriramachandra Swami with Seeta Devi and on the rest four days float festival will be performed to Sri Vedanarayana Swami with Sri Vedavalli.
Tirupati – Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple
The float festival will be celebrated in the month of ‘Chaitra’ in the star of ‘Pournami’ day. This festival will be celebrated for 3 days. On all three days, the float festival will be performed to Sri Kodandarama Swami with Sita Devi and Lakshmana Swami.
Devnuni Kadapa – Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami Temple
The float festival will be performed in the month of ‘Vaishaka’ in the star of ‘Pournami’ day. This festival will be celebrated for 3 days. All three days, the float will be performed to Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami.
Tiruchanur – Sri Padmavati Devi Temple
The float festival will be performed in the month of ‘Jyesta’ in the star of ‘Pournami’ day.
This festival will be celebrated for 5 days.
- On the first day of the float festival to Sri Krishna Swami;
- On the second day to Sri Sundararaja swami; and
- On the 3rd, 4th and 5th days, Sri Padmavati Devi will be decked on the float to bless Her devotees.
Narayanavanam – Sri Padmavathi with Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami vari Temple
The float festival will be celebrated in the month of ‘Karthika’ in the star of ‘Pournami’ day. This festival will be celebrated for 5 days.
- On the 1st day float festival will be performed to Sri Rama Swami;
- On 2nd day to Sri Krishnaswami, Sri Andal devi.
- On the 3rd, 4th and 5th days to Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami.
The float festivals will be celebrated in all the T.T.D. temples on ‘Pournami’ day only.
