Tirumala, Tirupati observe Sri Rama Navami with traditional fervor
The sacred hill town of Tirumala and Tirupati reverberated with the chanting of Sri Rama Nama on Sunday
TIRUPATI: The sacred hill town of Tirumala and Tirupati reverberated with the chanting of Sri Rama Nama on Sunday as devotees gathered to celebrate Rama Navami with religious devotion.
The annual festival, marking the birth of Lord Rama, was observed with a series of spiritual rituals and processions at prominent temples including the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala and the Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple in Tirupati.
In Tirumala, the celebrations have begun with Snapana Tirumanjanam, a ceremonial bath for the utsava deities of Sri Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya Sameta Sri Rama at the Ranganayakula Mandapam inside the hill temple.
Vedic scholars chanted hymns from the Taittiriya Upanishad, Purusha Suktam, Sri Suktam, Bhu Suktam, Neela Suktam, Pancha Shanti mantras, and verses from the Divya Prabandham during the ritual. The event was attended by Tirumala Pedda Jeeyar Swamy, TTD executive officer Syamala Rao, additional EO Venkaiah Chowdary and others.
In the evening, the Sri Venkatadri Ramudu was taken in a procession on Hanumantha Vahanam across the four mada streets, blessing devotees who had assembled in large numbers. This was followed by the traditional Sri Rama Navami Asthanam at Bangaru Vakili, where the temple priests recited the Sri Rama Jananam, marking the divine birth of Lord Rama.
At the Kodandarama Swamy temple in Tirupati, the utsava deities were given Snapana Tirumanjanam in the morning, using aromatic ingredients such as sandal paste and paneer. The Asthanam ritual was held in the afternoon in the temple's court hall.
In the evening, Sri Ramachandra Murthy was paraded on Hanumantha Vahanam, drawing participation from devotees who witnessed the deity's procession through the decorated temple premises.
Meanwhile, the annual Brahmotsavams commenced at Kodandarama Swamy temple in Chandragiri with the traditional Dhwajarohanam ceremony. Special rituals were held under the guidance of Kankanabhattar Srinivasa Bhattar, marking the formal beginning of the festival. Floral arrangements and lighting installations adorned the temples, adding to the festive ambience across the temple city.