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ToggleSri Padmavathi Ammavaru - Teppotsavam
Jyesta Masa according to Lunar Calendar is formed because of the association of the Star Jyesta with the Moon on the Full Moon Day (Purnima).
It is a very sacred month with a good number of festivals related to Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru of Sri Tiruchanur and also of Sri Venkateswara Swami of Tirumala.
The most important festival in the temple of Sri Padmavathi at Tiruchanur is the Holy Float Festival which is in the regional language called Teppotsavam. This is one of the very grand annual festivals of Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru.
A Five Day Festival
The celebrations of the festival are in the following manner. This is a FIVE-day festival.
This begins on the Ekadasi Day prior to Jyesta Masa Purnima and ends on the Purnima Day. While thousands of devotees watch this festival in the Padma Sarovaram of Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru.
- On the first day i.e. on Ekadasi, the festival is performed keeping Sri Krishna Swami in the boat (Float).
- On the second day i.e. on Dvadasi, it is the festival of Sri Sundara Rajaswami.
- On the third, fourth, and fifth days, it is Goddess Padmavathi Ammavaru who is seated in the small boat and taken into the Padma Sarovaram for a few rounds.
The boat is very beautifully decorated with garlands, electric figures of different deities, and even nicely carved hoarding decorations placed on all sides of the boat giving a look of Vaikuntha to it.
In Praise of ....
The Vedic Chanting adds a divine touch to the event. The artists play on different auspicious musical instruments. The singers sing in praise of Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru and Sri Swami Varu.
The Keertanas of Annamayya are very prominent on all days. From time to time Archaka Swamins stops the Boat at every stage enabling all the devotees to have a great Darsan of Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru.
At every stage, Divine Harathi is offered.
The Fragrant Sticks are burnt and the smoke emitted is a service to the Goddess. At every stage wherever the boat is stopped, Naivedya is offered to Ammavaru.
Divine Experience
It is a very beautiful experience to see the floating boat in the waters under the moonlight on the full moon day. The main intention behind the Teppotsavam (Float) is to understand the meaning of our living in this world.
As the world is called 'Bhava sagara (The ocean of Samsara)' our birth in this world is just to cross over it by swimming in different ways according to the Karma bandha in which we are caught up due to the account of it that has been continuing through several births.
The balance of such Karma bandha which has been making us to assume several births of fulfilments and failures in human life or births as other beings can be removed only by the divine grace of any God or Goddess in Float Festival (Teppotsavam) like this.
Festival of Wordly Pleasures
Hence this festival of Goddess Padmavathi is of that great kind. Viewing the Float festival (Teppotsavam) fetches all kinds of worldly pleasures.
- It assures wealth through good means.
- It removes the troubles in human life.
- It teaches the meaning of life.
- It enables one to cross over the Samsara Sagara (the ocean of worldly bondage) effortlessly.
Thus it is a means of all kinds of good to the devotees.
What is expected from the devotees is the intensity of devotion. That intensity of devotion should be immovable. With great concentration and faith, one should watch every moment of the festival.
