Tirumala: Padmavathi Parinayotsavam off to a grand start

Tirumala : The annual three-day festival, Sri Padmavathi Parinayotsavam commenced on a grand religious note at Tirumala on Saturday evening in the finely decked Parinayotsavam Mandapam at the Narayanagiri Gardens on the hills.

This colorful divine wedding ceremony is being conducted every year on Navami, Dasami and Ekadasi in the holy month of Vaisakha. Sri Malayappa Swamy, the processional deity of Sri Venkateswara Swamy, arrived in style on Gaja Vahana on the first day evening while His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi arrived on separate palanquins to the wedding venue.

This divine wedding ceremony took place as per the Hindu marriage traditions in an interesting manner. As a part of this, Edurukolu (Receiving bride and groom facing one another), Poo Bantata (Game of flower balls) and Vastra Dharanam (offering of new clothes) were conducted by Archakas.

After the completion of the pre-wedding ceremony, the deities returned to the main temple. The melodious rendition of Annamacharya Sankeertans and Nadaswaram enhanced the divinity of the event.

Asta Lakshmi-Dasavatara Mandapam: The highlight of the celestial event is the erection of the Astalakshmi-Dasavatara Mandapam by the garden wing of TTD to match the occasion. The beauty and grandeur of the divine wedding ceremony has been enhanced by the splendid decorations of the stage with varieties of fruits, flowers, orchids, banana and mango leaves, Sri Krishna, temple bell, elephant and peacock settings. Dy EO Lokanatham, peishkar Srihari and other officials were present.