‘Brahmotsavams’ conclude with ‘Chakrasnanam’

Tirumala: The Srivari Salakatla ‘Brahmotsavams’ concluded on Saturday with ‘Chakrasnanam’ performed in the presence of thousands of devotees at Swami Puskarini, signaling the penultimate ritual of the nine- day event.
The utsava idols were taken out in a palanquin. They, along with Sri Chakrathalwar, were offered ‘Panchamrutha Snapana Thirumanjanam’ at Sri Varahaswamy temple. Later, the idols were given bath in the Pushkarini. After the bath, they were brought back to the temple.

Heavy rush
The town was packed with devotees on Saturday. There was a stampede-like situation with the queue complex full and stretching three km outside. Several persons were injured, with a woman fainting. She was hospitalised. Because of the heavy turnout of pilgrims, the Lord’s ‘darshan’ is taking about 35 hours. The walkers are likely to have ‘darshan’ in a day’s time. Consequently, the TTD officials stopped issuing the ‘Divya darshan’ tokens.

‘Hundi’ collections touch Rs 20.64 crore
The TTD ‘hundi’ collection during the ‘Brahmotsavams’, which attracted 540,278 pilgrims, was over Rs.20.64 crore, as against over Rs.14 crore during that of the previous year, an increase of more than Rs.5.26 crore, Gopal told the media on Saturday evening that a record number of over six lakh people were served food on ‘Garuda Seva’ day.

He stated that exotic fruits and flowers were imported from Thailand, California and Malaysia for decorating the main deity, ‘Dwajasthambam’, social medians at Tirumala, arches and Srivari Temple. For the first time, sand art of the image of Sri Lakshmi Sametha Bhu Varahaswamy was displayed.

Rope way ruled out
The EO ruled out the feasibility of any rope way to Tirumala from Tirupati. ‘Drilling of hill rocks for rope way will affect the ecological balance of the ‘Sheshachala’ hill ranges which is attested as a bio-diversity park.