On Brahmotsavam’s fifth day Govindaraja Swamy on palanquin, Garuda blesses devotees

The deity of Sri Govindaraja Swamy, dressed as ‘Mohini’, is carried in a palanquin during the ‘Pallaki Utsavam’ observed as part of the annual Brahmotsavams in Tirupati on Friday, June 6, 2025. | Photo Credit: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar

On the fifth day of the annual Brahmotsavams, the deity of Lord Govindaraja was taken in a procession around the temple on a palanquin in the morning and the most-revered Garuda Vahanam in the evening on Friday.

Dressed in colourful silk clothes and dazzling jewels, the deity was dressed up as a damsel ‘Mohini’ and taken on a palanquin. Titled as ‘Mohini Avataram’, the procession drew the presence of hundreds of devout, who offered prayers even the deity was paraded around the shrine.

Similarly, the deity was mounted atop the ‘Garuda Vahanam’ and carried around the temple in the evening. Considered the best and most popular of the celestial carriers, the procession on Garuda always draws the maximum crowd, and as such, the procession laster for a longer duration than the normal time.

Special jewels

As is the practice every year, the Tirumala temple sent special jewels, including three dollars, worth Rs.34.46 lakh to be used on the occasion.

The jewels were carried in a special procession from atop the hill town to the shrine downhill. This is considered as a special gift from Lord Venkateswara to his elder brother Lord Govindaraja for his annual festival.

Published - June 07, 2025 09:05 am IST