In service of Lord:Devotees dragging the chariot of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala on Saturday, as part of the annual Brahmotsavams.

Tirumala, October 14, 2013: Religious fervour marked the Rathotsavam extravaganza (car festival) organised at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala on Saturday, on the penultimate day of the ongoing annual Brahmotsavams.

The processional deity of Lord Malayappa Samy, seated atop a high pedestal throne on the gargantuan wooden chariot, flanked by his consorts, went round the Mada Streets, amidst great religious ecstasy.

After compiling with the mandatory religious obligations like Punyavachanam, Navagraha Dhanam and other formalities, the temple priests conducted the customary Ratharohanam ceremony at the pre-designated Sumuhurtham in the wee hours of Saturday, wherein the deities were ceremoniously mounted atop the mammoth chariot.

Tens of thousands of devotees witnessed the royal spectacle which took over two and a half hours to complete. Despite repeated appeals by the TTD staff, devotees tossed pepper and salt crystals at the Chariot, tastefully decorated with flags and festoons.

With the TTDs engineering staff manoeuvring the movement of the huge chariot with great dexterity the car festival on a colourful note.

Meanwhile, TTD Chief Vigilance and Security Officer G.V.G. Ashok Kumar conducted a thorough inspection of the temple tank, the venue for the Sunday’s Chakrasnanam ritual.

The day, however, came to an end with the conduct of the procession of the precessionaldeity on Aswa Vahanam in the night.

Source: The Hindu, October 14, 2013