March 16, 2014:As a tribute to the great saint poet Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya who penned over 32000 kritis in praise of Lord Venkateswara, TTD will observe a week long spiritual fete in connection with the 511th Death Anniversary of the “Padakavitha Pitamaha”.

TTD has designed a series of programmes which constitute metlotsavam in Alipiri on March 26, followed by procession of Lord Malayappa and His consorts in Narayanagiri Gardens in Tirumala on March 27 where gosthi ganam by 1000 artistes will be performed. There will be special programmes in Mahati Kalakshetram in Tirupati from March 27th 31.

Apart from these, there will be special programmes in the native place of Annamacharya in Tallapaka in Kadapa District from March 27 to 31. On April 1, Utsava Murthies from Govinda Raja Swamy temple will be brought in a celestial procession to Annamacharya Kalamandir in Tirupati where astanam is performed in a grand manner.

Festival of colours celebrated at Chapman University

Chapman University students Kelsey Banning, 19, left, Monica Schneider, 18, and Cody Williams, 18, right, fling coloured powder into the air in celebration of Holi, the festival of colours and love. The event, an ancient Hindu religious festival, was held on the Memorial Lawn at the university Wednesday.

Clouds of pink and orange powder hovered above the lawn in front of Chapman University’s Memorial Hall on Wednesday, as students threw it in the air and at one other.

The powder-throwing was part of the university’s annual celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi, an ancient tradition that celebrates spring and love.

About 100 students turned up to cover their faces, clothes and hair in the pink and orange chalk powder. Some chased their friends, some did cartwheels,