Tirumala buzzed with color and devotion on Thursday as flowers for the annual Pushpayagam festival reached the Lord Venkateswara Temple. The celebration formed part of the Karthika month’s Shravana Nakshatra festivities.
Before the procession, priests offered special prayers to the flowers at the garden department’s Kalyanavedika. Deputy Executive Officer Lokanatham, Deputy Director Srinivasulu, and garden staff then carried the flowers to the temple in a grand procession filled with music and devotion.
TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal said that Pushpayagam follows Brahmotsavam to seek forgiveness for any lapses during the festival. He explained that the ritual symbolizes universal prosperity and has been part of temple tradition since the 15th century.
The TTD revived the festival in 1980 after a temporary pause and has continued it every year since.
On Wednesday evening, priests performed the Ankurarpanam ritual to mark the festival’s beginning. The next morning, they conducted Snapan Tirumanjanam for Lord Malayappa Swamy, Sri Devi, and Bhu Devi from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Later, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., priests performed the Pushpayagam ceremony using 16 varieties of flowers and six kinds of leaves. Devotees from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh generously donated about nine tonnes of flowers for the grand ritual.
