Chennai based Hindu Dharmartha Samiti presents sacred Umbrellas for Tirumala Garuda Seva
Tirumala, Sept 18 (TNT): Chennai-based Hindu Dharmartha Samiti Trust, on behalf of devotees from Tamil Nadu, presented nine traditional white silk umbrellas at the Sri Venkateswara Temple here on Friday for the annual Brahmotsavams.
The umbrellas will be used during the Garuda Vahana Seva, one of the most significant events of the annual Brahmotsavams.
As part of a longstanding tradition, Tamil Nadu devotees offer two auspicious items to Lord Malayappa Swamy during the festivities — floral garlands from the Sri Andal Temple at Srivilliputhur and specially crafted white silk umbrellas from Chennai.
The umbrella procession began on September 13 from the Sri Chennakesava Perumal Temple on Devaraja Mudali Street in Chennai after special rituals and prayers.
The procession was flagged off by Raghavendra Teertha Swamy, pontiff of Bheemanna Ghade Mutt in Thirthahalli, Karnataka, along with Hindu Dharmartha Samiti Trust trustee R R Gopalji.
According to the Trust, an estimated 15 lakh to 20 lakh devotees participated in the six-day foot procession and offered prayers to the sacred umbrellas along the route.
Two of the 11 umbrellas were presented at the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple in Tiruchanur on Thursday evening. The remaining nine were brought to Tirumala on Friday morning.
Gopalji presented the umbrellas before the Mahadwaram of the Sri Venkateswara Temple to TTD Executive Officer Muddada Ravichandra and Additional Executive Officer Venkayya Chowdary.
Speaking to the media, Gopalji said the Trust has been offering 11 white silk umbrellas on behalf of Tamil Nadu devotees during the Tirumala Brahmotsavams for the past 22 years.
He thanked the police departments of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh for extending cooperation and providing security for the annual procession.
Gopalji clarified that the Trust does not accept donations or hundi collections from anyone for the umbrella offering programme.
He prayed for the prosperity and well-being of devotees and thanked those who participated in the annual tradition.
TTD CVSO Muralikrishna, Tirupati District SP L Subbarayudu, TTD Board Member Bhanu Prakash Reddy, Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel Chairman Sridhar Varma, Tirumala Temple Deputy EO Bhaskar, Peshkar Ramakrishna and others participated in the programme.
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