Dolotsava/ Unjal Seva

Tirumala Dolotsavam, also known as Unjal Seva, is a sacred ritual performed at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world.

The Dolotsavam is a significant ritual performed daily at the temple and is considered to be highly auspicious by devotees. The priests conduct the ritual as per the traditional Vedic rituals and offer various types of puja and offerings to the Lord. The devotees, who are allowed to witness the ceremony, participate in the puja and offer their prayers to the Lord

When Dolotsavam (the festival of swinging) or Unjal Seva takes place with the Lord along with consorts on the swing cot, the image is reflected in all directions.

This will be a feast for the eyes and it has to be experienced and cannot be explained as the vocabulary fails to express this scene.

Dolotsavam is performed in the addhala meda, also known as the Mirror Hall. The hall is located in Aina Mahal (Addala Mantapam), directly across from Ranganayaka Mantapam (Mandapam), where Arjitha Brahmotsavam is held. The Aina Mahal is made up of mirrors on four walls and a central stage with space for unjal (Swing). Sri Malayappaswami, Sridevi, and Bhudevi are swinging to the accompaniment of Veda parayanam and mangalavadyam.

The Unjal Seva is performed as a part of the regular temple rituals, and it takes place in the evening. The ceremony starts with the procession of the deities from the main temple to the Unjala Mandapam, which is a separate hall designed for the occasion. The idols of Lord Venkateswara and His consort Goddess Padmavathi are placed in the Unjal, which is adorned with colorful flowers, silk clothes, and other decorative items.

The Unjal is then gently swung back and forth by the temple priests, who recite sacred mantras and hymns in praise of the deities. The swinging motion of the Unjal is believed to represent the playfulness and joyfulness of Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavathi, and it is said to invoke their blessings and grace upon the devotees.