Fervour marked the Telugu new year, ‘Shubhakriti Nama Ugadi’, celebrations at the temple of Lord Venkateswara here on Saturday.
As part of the festivities, ‘Asthanam’ was conducted at Bangaru Vakili inside the temple followed by the customary ‘Panchanga Sravanam’ to the processional deities of Lord Malayappa and his two consorts seated atop the golden ‘Sarva Bhoopala vahanam’.
Earlier, special rituals were carried out inside the temple welcoming the new year.
Soon after completion of the predawn rituals, ‘Visesha Samarpana’ was rendered to the processional deities and Lord Viswaksena, followed by a grand procession of the new ‘silk vastrams’ around the ‘vimana prakaram’ and ‘Dwajasthambam’, which were later adorned to the deity.
Befitting the occasion, the temple complex was tastefully decorated with varied hues of aromatic flowers and bunches of various fruits.
According to TTD Superintendent of Gardens Srinivas, about 150 floral artists who arrived from different parts of the country toiled for over three days in the beautification works.
Later, speaking to the media, TTD Chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy said it was by the grace of the Lord that the country limped back to normal after withstanding multiple devastating spells of the pandemic, and prayed for the prosperity of the people and the country.
Transport Minister P. Venkataramaiah, Additional Executive Officer A.V. Dharma Reddy, JEO Sada Bharghavi, CVSO Gopinath Jatti and members of the trust board were among others who took part in the festivities.