TIRUPATI: The richness, majesty and grandeur of Lord Malyappa Swamy is clearly exhibited on the glittering golden chariot procession-Radharanga Dolotsavam. After taking rides all alone on His favourite cars, Garuda and Hanumantha consecutively, the Lord took a colourful ride with His two consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi on the Swarna Ratham on Saturday evening. All the three deities decked in silk vastrams and precious jewels, took a majestic ride on Swarna Ratham and blessed the devotees in four mada streets.
Legends say that the practice of Rathotsavam began during the period of Vijayanagara king, Krishnadevaraya, who had donated large amount of gold to the Srivari temple. The practice is being continued even today as part of the Brahmotsavam and also on some other significant festivals at Tirumala. 74 kgs of gold and 2,900 kgs of copper were utilised in 2013 to make an unique 32-foot tall ‘ratham’ which in the final stage weighs about 30 tonnes. Eighteen gauge copper sheet and nine layers of gold has been used in the making of this chariot, said the joint executive officer K.S. Sreenivasa Raju, 18 goldsmiths from Tamil Nadu worked on the new ratham, the contract for the new golden chariot was assigned to the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation in 1994. “We replaced the old ratham after complaints from the devotees that the old chariot — silver-coated wooden chariot — had lost its glitter and looks,” the joint executive officer said.
