Lord Balaji Temple brahmotsavam to begin

Tirupati: The famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala is all set for twin 'brahmotsavam' festivals to be held in a space of two months, with the first one commencing on September 16 amid tight security arrangements.

The 'brahmotsavam' is an annual spectacular festival that draws tens and thousands of devotees from across the country during the nine days when the processional idol of the temple is taken in a glittering procession through the decorated four streets around the cash-rich shrine.

The first event 'Salaktla Brahmotsavam' would begin on September 16 while the usual 'Navaratri Brahmotsavam' on October 14. The auspicious 'Garuda Seva' event would be conducted on on September 20 and October 18 respectively. As part of security measures for the festivals, state-of-the-art surveillance cameras were being placed at several places.

A thick security blanket would be in place at Tirumala and along the ten-km long stairway leading to the hill shrine and the 22-km long vehicular routes -- both up and down, he said. A large number of colourful electric illuminated huge cutouts depicting several Hindu mythological events have been mounted at several places on the sacred hill, he said.

As per the four-decade old practice introduced by the then Chief Minister M Channa Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would arrive here to offer a pair of new silk cloth to the shrine, on behalf of the state government, on the inaugural day of the festival on Sept 14.