Ratha Sapthami Festival Celebrated with Grandeur at Tirumala
The sacred hill town of Tirumala witnessed an extraordinary display of devotion on Sunday as the annual Ratha Sapthami festival, also known as Surya Jayanti, was observed with immense spiritual fervor at the abode of Lord Venkateswara. This year's celebrations saw an unprecedented pilgrim rush, amplified by the weekend coinciding with Republic Day holidays, drawing massive crowds to the temple town.
Record-Breaking Devotee Turnout
An estimated 2 lakh devotees filled every available space along the four mada streets surrounding the temple, creating a sea of faithful participants. The atmosphere was charged with spiritual energy as pilgrims experienced divine rapture while witnessing the processions of Lord Malayappa Swamy accompanied by his consorts, Goddess Sridevi and Bhudevi, on various sacred vehicles from dawn until late evening.
Elaborate Vahana Processions
The day-long celebrations commenced early at 5:30 AM when Lord Malayappa Swamy, adorned with special ornaments and garlands, emerged from the Vahana Mandapam on the magnificent Surya Prabha Vahanam, with the Sun god symbolically serving as his charioteer. Throughout the morning hours, devotees received divine blessings as the deity appeared on multiple sacred vehicles:
- Chinna Sesha Vahanam
- Garuda Vahanam
- Hanumantha Vahanam
The afternoon featured the significant Chakrasnanam ritual performed by temple priests at the sacred Srivari Pushkarini temple tank, where devotees occupied the banks before immersing themselves in the holy waters.
Evening Processions and Celebrations
As the day progressed, the divine processions continued with Lord Malayappa Swamy appearing on the Kalpa Vruksha Vahanam, followed by the newly introduced Sarvabhoopala Vahanam. The festival reached its magnificent climax with the Chandra Prabha Vahanam procession later in the night. Each appearance of the deity through the mada streets was accompanied by thunderous chants of "Govindanama" from thousands of devotees, creating reverberations throughout the hill town.
Comprehensive Security Arrangements
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), in close coordination with local police authorities, implemented extensive security measures that ensured smooth conduct of all festival activities without any untoward incidents. TTD chairman BR Naidu, executive officer Anil Kumar Singhal, additional executive officer CH Venkaiah Chowdary, and other board members actively participated in the celebrations, overseeing the arrangements.
The successful organization of this grand religious event demonstrated the temple administration's commitment to facilitating spiritual experiences for devotees while maintaining order and safety during large-scale gatherings. The Ratha Sapthami festival continues to be one of the most significant annual events in Tirumala's religious calendar, attracting devotees from across the country seeking divine blessings and spiritual fulfillment.
