The hill shrine of Tirumala is all set to
celebrate the most colourful festival, Pushpayagam on Novmeber 3, Thursday with
Ankurarpanam to the festival on November 2.
TTD has cancelled arjitha sevas like
Vasanthotsavam and Sahasradeepalankara Seva following Ankurarpana on November 2
and sevas including Tiruppavadai, Kalyanotsavam, Brahmotsavam, Unjal Seva,
Vasanthotsavam on the day of Pushpayagam on Thursday.
It is a known fact that every day in Tirumala
is a festive day and there is no exaggeration that nearly 450 festivals are
being performed to the Lord of Lords in Tirumala hill shrine round the year.
Among all rituals the most colourful ritual is Pushpayagam. Usually this
ceremony is performed in the month of Karthika after annual Brahmotsavam on the
asterism of Sravanam.
After performing two archanas and two
naivedyams, the processional deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy flanked by his two
consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi will be brought to the Kalyanamandapam by 1pm on
that day where in homas and Snapana Tirumanjanam is performed.
Later the deities will be given a celestial
floral bath with over seven tonnes of 18 different varieties of traditonal
flowers including Chamanti, Lilly, Roses, Nandivardanam, Tulsi, Marukam,
Davanam etc. As soon as the flowers touch the chest of the Lord, they will be
removed and again floral bath will be given to the deities amidst the chanting
of vedic hymns by pundits. This process will be repeated for twenty times. And
finally the colourful floral ceremony concludes on a grant note with the
priests offering special arti to the deities by 5pm.
TTD officials, temple priests will participate
in this ritual.