Annual Pushpayagam performed on Tirumala

TIRUMALA: The annual Pushpayagam was performed in a colourful manner at Sri Venkateswara Swamy shrine here on Thursday.The TTD has cancelled Arjita Sevas including Tiruppavadai, Kalyanotsavam, Brahmotsavam, Unjal Seva and Vasantotsavam for the day. The processional deity, Malayappa Swamy, and His Consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, were brought to the Kalyanamandapam in Sampangi Prakaram where Snapana Tirumanjanam was performed.Later, the deities were given a celestial floral bath with over seven tonnes of 18 varieties of traditional flowers including Chamanti, lily, rose, Nandivardhanam, Tulasi, Maruvam and Davanam. As soon as the flowers reached the height of the chest of the idol, they were removed and a floral bath was given again to the deities amidst chanting of hymns. Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, TTD board chairman Kanumuri Bapi Raju, executive officer LV Subrahmanyam, joint executive officers KS Srinivasa Raju and Venkatarami Reddy, chief vigilance and security officer MK Singh, chief engineer Chandrasekhar Reddy, Chittoor MP N Sivaprasad and several others witnessed the event.