Tirumala, February 04: The TTD management has cancelled all Arjita Sevas on February 10 in connection with the auspicious Rathasaptami festival on that day. Tens of thousands of devotees from across the country congregate at the hill shrine of Sri venkateswara to take part in the event, popularly known as Surya Jayanti festival.
The festival is also called Mini Brahmotsavams, as the processional deity of Lord Malayappa Swamy takes a pleasure ride on seven vahanams on the auspicious day. Mounted atop seven different vahanams (vehicles) including Surya Prabha, Chinna Sesha, Garuda, Hanumanta, Kalpavriksha, Sarvabhoopala and Chandra Prabha, the Lord will grace the pilgrims along the four mada streets at different intervals.
Among all the Vahanams, Surya Prabha and Garuda are considered to be the most important ones. The festival commences with Surya Prabha Vahanam. The pilgrims will gather in the north-west corner of the temple town at around 4 am to catch the rare sight of the first rays of the Sun falling on the forehead, abdomen and feet of the deity mounted on the Golden Surya Prabha Vahanam.
—Agencies