Grandeur marks Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam in Tirumala

Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam was conducted at the temple of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala on Tuesday (September 16).

The traditional ritual was conducted as a prelude to the annual Brahmotsavams scheduled to begin from September 24. The cleansing festival began at 6 a.m. and continued until 10 a.m., during which the main deity was ceremoniously covered with cloth. Later, the sanctum, inner temples, golden entrance, walls, ceilings, and temple premises were thoroughly cleansed and applied with a herbal paste that acts as a disinfectant.

The paste consisted of a rich mixture of camphor, turmeric, sandalwood powder, kumkum, musk, and other aromatic herbs. Soon after the conclusion of the fete, the fabric veil was removed and special pujas and offerings were performed before devotees were allowed darshan.

The temple staff and priests led by TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu, Executive Officer Anilkumar Singhal, Additional EO Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary, Chief Vigilance and Security Officer Murali Krishna, board members and senior officials took part in the ritual cleansing operation that lasted for over four hours.