Sikyotsavam or Utlotsavam
Sikyotsavam or Utlotsavam or Uriyadi festival is celebrated with full gaiety and religious fervor in Tirumala and Tirupati every year. This is a Historical festival celebrated and many devotees participate to observe the event.
Lord Venkateswara’s Temple is known for many festivals throughout the year and it is called ‘Nitya Kalyanam Pacchatoranam’.
Lord Venkateswara is eulogized by Alwars and Acharyas as Svayambhu (self-manifested) God. Every day during Viswaroopa Darshanam, He is considered as Lord Krishna, and many cups of butter are offered to Him as naivedyam.
To fulfill Yasodha’s request to see His marriage in person, the Lord took the form of Lord Venkateswara and made the place His ‘Kreeda Sthala’ (a place chosen by Him in this Kaliyuga).
All the devotee pilgrims call Lord Srinivasa Govinda, Govinda, and Govinda only as a chorus as He is the embodiment of Lord Krishna. Hence, the Sikyotsavam or Utlotsavam is celebrated at Tirumala on a grand scale to commemorate the folk sports of Dwapara yuga.
Lord Krishna’s childhood activities were always unforgettable happy events for the maids of the cowherd tribe of Gokulam. Mother Yasoda enjoyed the naughty activities of her son and the people of Gokulam took Lord Krishna as their Lovable child and leader.
Sikyotsavam or Utlotsavam has its origin from the Dvaparayuga and it was an important sports festival of the Gokulam which became more important after Sri Krishna became a team leader of cowherd boys. To keep the churned butter away from the sight of Krishna’s team, the Gopikas used to preserve the butter at a high place beyond their reach.
Sri Krishna and His team used to form human pyramids to reach the top bring down the butter pots and eat all together with His teammates. Likewise in Tirumala and Tirupati TTD temples, the same type of sport is being performed a day after Gokulastami. It is called Sikyotsavam or Utlotsavam.
Utlotsavam at Tirumala
At Tirumala, after Gokulashtami day Sikyotsavam, Lord Malayappa swami, and Lord Krishna will be taken out in procession to the opposite side of the temple to participate in the event and go around the four mada streets. A long wooden pole will be erected with a high prize tied to the highest pole smeared with oil.
The young compete to catch the big price and try to climb the slippery pole as people from below will pour turmeric water on them. Human pyramids are also made to reach the top and finally, a team wins the race and goes away with the “big prize” tied to the top of the pole.
This utlotsavam will be performed at Pedda Jeeyar Mutt and Mahant mutt. Later on, Sri Malayappa Swami and Sri Krishna will be taken out to the Chinna Jeeyar mutt, Karnataka choultry (conducting the same sport again), Hayagreeva Sannidi, and finally the processional deities will reach the temple.
Utlotsavam in Sri Govindarajaswami Temple
In Sri Govindarajaswami Temple at Tirupati, Sikyotsavam will be celebrated a day after Gokulashtami. A procession of the deities of Sri Govindarajaswami and Srikrishnaswami will be taken out in the four mada streets.
There will be many ubhayams (contribution and distribution of prasadam) in different places like Pedda Jeeyar mutt, Chinna Jeeyar Mutt, Sri Vedanta Desika Temple, Parakala mutt etc. and also the Tirumaaligai residence of Acharya Purushas.
Normally Sri Krishnaswami will be there along with the main deities in Tirumala and Kodandarama Swami Temples but in Sri Govinda Raja Swami Temple, Sri Krishna Swami will be in Andalamma Sannidhi.
On Gokulashtami day Sri Krishnaswami will be brought from Sri Andalamma Temple and there will be Abhishekam, Purana pathanam (reading the greatness of Lord Krishna’s birthday), prabandha ghoshti, and Asthanam.
In both the temples, the idols of Sri Krishnaswami varu are made of Panchaloham (5 metals) and in the Srivari Temple, Sri Krishna Swami is made of pure silver only. In all three temples, we can see Lord Sri Krishna with a ball of butter in the right hand in a dancing posture.
Utlotsavam in Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple
Sri Krishnaswami will proceed in procession through the four mada streets with many ubhayams and utlotsavams.
