NE NEWS SERVICE
TIRUMALA, FEB 20
After nearly 11 month COVID-19 induced restrictions, thousands of devotees from across the country on Friday partipated in the sacred processions of the annual “Ratha Sapthami” festival at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala on the occasion of “Surya Jayanthi.’
రధసప్తమి సందర్భంగా సూర్యప్రభ వాహనంపై ద్వారకాతిరుమల శ్రీ వేంకటేశ్వర స్వామి ఊరేగింపు. pic.twitter.com/HodryZOaiN
— TTD Seva (@ttd_seva) February 19, 2021
The devotees were allowed to congregate in large numbers at all open places around the complex of the shrine today after nearly 11 months due to the coronavirus induced restrictions, a temple official said.
RathaSapthami at Tirumala. #Tirumala #Tirupati #RathaSaptami pic.twitter.com/ZXappyG1vl
— TTD Seva (@ttd_seva) February 19, 2021
After the lockdown, the hill shrine was reopened for devotees from June 11 last, but with very limited numbers per day and slowly but steadily, the numbers were increased following requests from devotees, the official said.
The recently held ‘Navaratri Brahmotsavam’ was also observed without the participation of devotees, the official said. He said the Rathasapthami festival is observed as one of the most sacred events at the over two millennia old shrine on the occasion of ‘Jayanthi of Lord Surya (Sun) annually for the last several centuries.
As part of the festivity today, the centuries old ‘utsav’ idol of Lord Venkateswara, adorned with several gem-set ornaments, was taken out in a procession around the temple mounted on seven sacred golden ‘vahanas’ (carriers) at different intervals from dawn to night.
The holy spectacle began just before the crack of dawn with the idol of Lord being carried on the majestic golden ‘Surya’ (Sun) ‘vahana’, followed by the other six carriers — “Chinna Sesha, Garuda, Hanuman, Kalpavriksha, Sarvabhupala and Chandra” separately at different intervals.
