Govinda namam paramaanandam, Brahmotsavam brahmaanandam.
The Brahmotsavam is an annual festival celebrated on Tirumala for nine days when the sun enters Kanya Rashi from Ashwayuja Shuddha Padyami to Ashwayuja Shuddha Dashami during September/October time period. This year its between 25th September and 3rd October.
Its a nine day fest starting with
Day 1:
style="font-weight:bold;">Dhwajarohana, is conducted by hoisting the Garudadhwaja (flag with the emblem of a black garuda), near the Srivari Alaya Dhwajasthambham. Then lords procession on Pedda Seshavahana (vehicle shaped like Adisesha) in the maada veedhis. (maada veedhi: 4 roads surrounding the temple, where the procession happens)
day2:
Chinna Seshavahana in the morning.
Night Unjal Seva and procession on Hamsavahana.
Unjal seva is conducted almost everyday of the brahmotsavam except on day 6.
day3:
Simhavahana
Mutayalapandiri Vahana
day4:
Kalpavriksha Vahana
Sarvabhoopala Vahana.
day5:
Mohini Avatarotsavam
Garuda Vahana.
Garuda vahana has utmost importance and a large number of pilgrims visit on that day. I heard this time the maada veedhi is full of pilgrims.
Garuda is also called periyatiruvadi, meaning the first devotee.
day6:
hanumad Vahana.
Unjal Seva is not performed today. Instead, Vasantotsavam (spring festival) is celebrated.
In the night, the Lord is mounted on the Gaja Vahana.
day7:
Suryaprabha Vahana
Chandraprabha Vahana
day8:
Rathotsavam is celebrated, in which the Lord is seated in a ratham (chariot) and taken in a procession in the morning.
Rathostham kesavam dristva punarjanma na vidyate, means whoever witness Rathotsavam will not be reborn.
The idols of Daruka (the charioteer of Lord Sri Krishna) and the four horses (Saibyam, Sugreevam, Meghapushpam and Valahakam) are placed before the decorated deities of the Lord and his consorts. This symbolises that the lord’s charioteer is driving the chariot.
The chariot is pulled along by devotees, who chant Govinda!, Govinda! This is the only opportunity that devotees get to be of service to the Lord during Brahmotsavam.
After the Unjal Seva in the night, the deities are taken in the Aswa (horse) Vahana.
day9:
Pallaki Seva and Chakrasnana Mahotsavam in the morning and Dhwajavarohanam are performed in the evening.
My parents, staying in Tirupati, were desperately trying to go there to participate in this event. Man proposes, god disposes. But finally we got a call from lord to participate. We planned to go on Sunday morning for the Surya Prabha vahana, but puja in our house was not over by then, so we planned in the evening. Mom and dad finished their evening rituals and we started around 6:30PM. Our driver, Ramana, who knows in-and-outs of all roads in Tirumala, parked the car close to one of the maada veedhis.
There's a narrow lane through the bushes which leads to the maada veedhi. Its hardly 50 yards. We were there well before the scheduled time of start(9:30PM)
I went around taking pics. The decoration was simply superb, everyone in their traditional attires...dancing, singing, praying; elephants, horses, cows all decorated well; trees, plants all covered with lights. I saw in the TV but I should say its different over there.
Finally lord appeared on Chandraprabha Vahana (moon-shaped vehicle)
According to Hindu mythology, Chandra is the commander of the mind and the king of aushadha (medicine). It is also said that riding on the Chandraprabha Vahana is a soothing experience for the Lord that brings peace to devotees' minds.
It started raining, but very little. My mom offered dry fruits to lord. As the procession left that place, within few minutes she was surronded by pilgrims for the prasad, we distributed and quickly ran to our car as the dripping rain started heavily. We crawled down the hill slowly due to the heavy downpour. We reached home around 11:30PM. Overall a wonderful experience and a must visit for everyone atleast once in their lifetime for brahmotsavam.
Please visit the following links for more info:
http://www.tirumala.org/utsavams_brahmo_activities.htm
http://www.srivaishnava.org/customs/butsav_T.html
http://www.templenet.com/bhram.html
Om namo venkatesaya
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