Tirumala  January 18^th, 2014: The annual celestial “Safari”-ParuvetaUtsavam was performed with religious pomp and gaiety with the processional deities of Lord MalayappaSwamy and Lord SrikrishnaSwamy throwing the weapons at wild animals in the green woods of Seschachala ranges on Thursday. Thousands of devotees witnessed the celestial “Mock Safari” act with anxiety at ParuvetaMandapam in Tirumala.

The day commenced with the chief pontiff of PeddaJiyangar Mutt handing over special Andal Sri Goda Devi garlands brought from Sri Govinda Raja Swamy temple to be adorned to the presiding deity as a part of GodaParinayam

Later Lord Sri MalayappaSwamy and Lord SrikrishnaSwamy, both the deities seated on separate palanquins, were taken for a pleasure hunt to ParuvetaMandapam in Tirumala from the main shrine in a colourful procession.

Lord MalayappaSwamy in the Sarvabhoopala avatar sporting conch, disc, mace, bow and arrow, accompanied by Lord Sri Krishna Swamy, enthralled the devotees, who gathered to witness the event. After special pujas in ParuvetaMandapam, the two processional deities were taken for a pleasure hunt in the thick forests of Seshachala ranges.

Temple priests and officials on behalf of Lord Malayappa and Lord Krishna Swamy participated in the mock hunt as a part of the festival on the Kanuma day.

Hindu Dharma PracharaParishad, Annamacharya Project artistes presented devotional and cultural programmes on the occasion.

After the customary rituals, the deities were taken back to the main temple.

The TTD top officials and scores of devotees took part in the eventThe annual hunting festival or the celestial safari of the processional deities of Lord MalayappaSwamy and Sri Krishna Swamy —ParuvetaUtsavam—will be held in Tirumala amidst religious fervour and gaiety on the festival of Kanuma on Sunday.

TTD cancelled Arjithasevas including the Tiruppavada, Kalyanotsavam, ArjithaBrahmotsavam, Vasanthotsavam, UnjalSeva and SahasraDeepalankaraSeva following the ParuvetaUtsavam on Thursday in Srivari temple.