Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam: Tirumala temple cleansed ahead of Brahmotsavams

TIRUMALA: Ahead of the Annual Brahmotsavams, to be held from September 27 to October 5, Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam, one of the most awaited traditional ritual, was performed at the Lord Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala on Tuesday. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer Dharma Reddy, temple priests and a few special invitees were among those who took part in the event, meant to cleanse the temple premises.

Speaking to the media on this occasion, EO Dharma Reddy said that Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam was conducted on Tuesday morning as a prelude to Tirumala's annual Brahmotsavams to be held from September 27 to October 5. He said that it was the custom of the temple to organize Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam four times every year before Ugadi, Anivara Asthanam, Brahmotsavam and Vaikuntha Ekadashi festivals. During this time, the temple premises are cleansed in right earnest.

Dharma Reddy said that the temple premises, right from Anandanilayam to Bangaruvakili, smaller temples, walls and the temple dome besides all the puja paraphernalia have been cleaned. He said that the programme was conducted by priests from 6 am to 11 am after covering the presiding deity (Moolavirattu) in the temple with a veil.

After cleansing the temple, a mixture of refined camphor, sandalwood powder, vermilion, turmeric and other ingredients was sprinkled all over the temple premises. The priests then unveiled the presiding deity and traditionally performed special puja. Later, the devotees were allowed to visit the temple for darshans.

Among the special invitees who took part in the event, regarded very sacred by the zillion of Lord's devotees, were President of Delhi Local Council Vemireddy Prashanthi Reddy and CVSO Narasimha Kishore. CEO of SVBC Shanmukh Kumar, Deputy EO of Temple Ramesh Babu, VGO Balireddy, Peshkar Srihari, Parpatedar Umamaheswar Reddy and other dignitaries also participated in the Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam ritual.