TIRUPATI: Officials of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and Tirupati Urban police are gearing up for the smooth conduct of Garuda Seva, the most important event of the nine-day Brahmotsavams scheduled on Friday night.
Devotees from all corners of the country are expected. Ahead of the Garuda Seva, top officials led by TTD executive officer A.V. Dharma Reddy, chief vigilance and security officer D. Narasimha Kishore and Tirupati superintendent of police P. Parameswara Reddy reviewed the arrangements anticipating a huge turnout of over three lakh devotees this year.
As part of traffic curbs, movement of two-wheelers along the twin ghat roads leading to and from Tirumala has been suspended from Thursday noon until Saturday noon. Traffic diversions will be enforced at various points within Tirupati and at Tirumala throughout Friday.
TTD has made arrangements to provide free food, water, milk, and buttermilk to the devotees, who may have to wait for hours in the galleries to witness the Garuda Seva procession. Galleries in the four mada streets have been streamlined to accommodate nearly 2.5 lakh devotees, who will gather to witness the Garuda Seva procession.
A trial run has been successfully conducted during the Vahana Sevas in the past two days. TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy and the executive officer have personally inspected various preparations.
Ahead of the Garuda Seva, garlands for Andal Sri Goda Devi reached the hill town from Srivilliputhur in Tamil Nadu on Thursday. Tamil Nadu Endowments Department joint commissioner K. Chella Durai and others took the garlands to the Srivari temple in a procession after special pujas. These garlands are part of decorating the deity during the Garuda Seva.
Umbrellas presented by Chennai’s Hindu Dharmartha Samiti for decorating the Garuda Vahanam have also reached Tirumala.
