‘Utlotsavam’ celebrated with religious gaiety in Tirumala

Tirumala: The festival of ‘Utlotsavam' was celebrated at the famous hill temple of Lord Venkateswara with religious fervour and gaiety on Tuesday. This festival is customarily celebrated on the succeeding day of “Krishna Janmashtami" every year in Tirumala where local youth take part in large numbers in this fun filled religious event.

The event began with the processional deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy and Lord Sri Krishna Swamy taken around in a grand procession on golden ‘Tiruchi' around the mada streets encircling the holy shrine.

Meanwhile Utlotsavam was conducted at three different places atop the temple town, while the processional deities took part in two places around the four mada streets with the first one being conducted in front of the main temple complex.

Hundreds of enthusiastic youth who formed into groups among themselves in their resplendent joy vied with others to capture the prize money tied atop a long wooden post smeared with sticky and other oily substances.

It is an interesting event to watch how the youth build a "Human Pyramid" to break the pot which is tied at about 25 feet from the ground level. Similar event took place at Karnataka Chowltries also. Pilgrims converged in huge numbers at all the places where the Utlotsavams are performed in Tirumala with enthusiasm.

Meanwhile TTD has cancelled arjitha sevas including Kalyanotsavam, Unjal Seva, Arjitha Brahmotsavam, Vasanthotsavam and Sahasra Deepalankara Seva on this occasion. Tirumala JEO KS Sreenivasa Raju, Additional CVSO Siva Kumar Reddy, Deputy EO (Temple) Chinnamgari Ramana, SE II Ramesh Reddy and other temple officials were also present.