Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – Srivari Kalyanothsavam

Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala –  Srivari Kalyanothsavam

Srivari Kalyanothsavam is performed to the Utsava Murti - Lord Sri Malayappa swami (instead of the main deity) and his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. The priests are consecrated to perform rituals on behalf of the bridegroom. The wedding ceremony is held according to the Vaikhanasa Agama rituals and starts with the Vishwakasena Puja. This is followed by Punya-avahachana and pronouncing the family pedigree of the brides and bridegroom. The idols of the Lord and his brides face each other with a screen in between them. After the priests perform appropriate homas, the bridegroom and the brides are allowed to see each other at the appropriate auspicious moment when the screen is removed. This is followed by Mangala sutra dharana, Purnahuti and Talambralu and then Lord and his consorts are garlanded.

This Seva is not performed on important festivals like Srivari Brahmotsavam, Pavitrotsavam, Pushpa Yagam, etc., and on the days of solar and lunar eclipses. The duration of the Seva is about one hour. The practice of Kalyanothsavam started in 1536 AD when Tallapaka Tirumala Ayyangar conceived the idea of celebrating the marriage festival of Lord Malayappa swami and the ceremony was conducted over five days in the Tirumamani mandapam. This Seva starts exactly at 12:00 pm and ends up at 1:00 pm followed by darshan. More than 500 couples take part in this Seva.