Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – Theppotsavam
Every year during Phalguna Pournami, this festival is
celebrated on a grand scale in the Swami Pushkarini for five days in the month
of Chaitra (March). It is a five-day festival. On the first day, Lord Rama with
Sita and Lakshmana is offered worship and taken out for a celestial ride on the
finely decked float in Swamy Pushkarini. On the second day, Lord Sri Krishna
and Rukmini are offered puja and taken for pleasure ride on float. During the
remaining three days beginning with Trayodashi and ending with Pournami, Sri
Malayappa Swami along with Sridevi and Bhudevi are taken out for a ride in the
temple tank.
On the third day, there will be three rounds followed by
five rounds and on the final day, the Utsava Murtis will be taken out for
pleasure ride on the impressively decorated float for seven rounds. The
pilgrims throng to see the grandeur of the deities on this particular day
since, the charm of full moon is an added attraction to the divine beauty of
the deities. Arjita Seva ticket holders who take part in this float festival
will have darshan of the Lord after the festival.
This annual Seva is offered at Tirumala Tirupati
Devasthanam. The festivals begin in Srivari
Pushkaram, Tirumala around 6 to 7 p.m. in the evening on all 5 days. The
earliest inscription relates to the year 1468 A.D. says that Sriman Maha
Mandaleswara Medini Misraganda Kathhari Saluva Narasimha Raju Udayar, the son
of Saluva Gundaya Deva Maharaja Udayar, built a Vasanta Mandapam in the middle
of Swami Pushkarini Teertha.
Even today it is this mandapam from the Theppotsavam
starts. Earlier this festival was celebrated for 9 days. But it is being
observed for 5 days starting from Ekadashi and concluding on Poornima. The
price of ticket is Rs 500 per person for per day. Every ticket holder is given
one Big Laddu and one Vada along with silk piece upper for gents and blouse
piece for ladies.
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