Annual ‘Teppotsavams’ begin at Tirumala

The five-day annual ‘Teppotsavams’ got under way at the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala on Thursday evening, with traditional rituals marking the commencement of the float festival.

On the inaugural day, the idols of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman were taken in a ceremonial procession to the temple tank ‘Pushkarini’. Amid chanting of Vedic hymns, the idols were placed on a decorated two-tier float illuminated with colourful lights and adorned with flowers. The float was taken for three rounds in the waters of the tank as part of the customary observance.

Devotees gathered in large numbers along the banks of the Pushkarini to witness the ritual. Temple musicians rendered devotional numbers on wind and percussion instruments, accompanied by nadaswaram music, while Vedic scholars recited hymns.

The surroundings of the temple tank was lit up with illuminated cut-outs depicting various forms of Lord Maha Vishnu and the presiding deity, Lord Venkateswara.