ANNAUAL VASANTHOTSAVAM (01:00
PM MAR OR APR)
(COST
RS 300/- PER PERSON, PRASADAM : 2 LADDUS, 1 VADA, 1
UTTARIYAM
OR 1 BLOUSE PIECE)
The Annual
Vasanthotsavam is performed in Tirumala on the auspicious days of
Trayodasi, Chaturdasi
and Pournami in the month of Chaitra (March/April) every
year. According to
the temple Legend, the Vasanthotsavam Festival was started
during the period of
King Achyutaraya in 1460's. This annual fete was believed to
have introduced by
the King to mark the arrival of Spring Season. Lord and his
Consorts are given
aromatic bath on these three days which is believed to give a
soothing relief to
the deities from the scorching Sun.
This three-day
festival starts with ankurarpanam (sowing the nine kinds of seeds)
ceremony conducted on
the day of Uttarabhadra star, one day before the
commencement of
Vasanthotsavam festival.
Punyaha
Vachanam (purification rites), vaasthu santhi (worship of deity and
lord
of nature and their
elements and natural forces as well as lord and deity of
directions and
environment) and samprokshanam (sprinkling of holy water as a
symbolic
representation of purification) rituals are performed by the temple
priests. Access to
these rituals is not open to public.
On all these three
days, Sri Malayappa Swamy and His consorts are brought to
beautifully decorated
Vasanta Mandapam in a procession from the main temple. In
Vasanta Mandapam,
Abhisekham which means Snapana Thirumanjanam (Holy
Bath with aromatic
ingredients) is performed to the processional deity of Lord Sri
Malayappa Swamy and
His consorts on first two days.
On the third day,
Lord Sri Rama with Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya and Sri
Krishna with Rukmini
and Satyabhama are also taken out in procession along with
Lord Malayappa Swamy
and His consorts. At the end of procession, all the Utsava
murthies are brought
to Vasanta Mandapam where Snapana Tirumanjanam is
performed with
religious fervour.
Pilgrims can
participate in Srivari Annual Vasanthotsavam Festival on payment of
Rs.300 per person per Ticket.
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