TIRUMALA, AUGUST 05, 2025: The three-day annual Pavitrotsavams (the festival of purification) got off to a start on a religious note at the temple of Lord Venkateswara on Tuesday.
Much significance is attached to the festival, wherein the priests seek atonement for all the omissions and commissions committed knowingly or unknowingly in the performance of various rituals inside the temple throughout the year.
The three-day Pavitrotsavam started with Homam at the Yaga Shala inside the temple, followed by Snapana Tirumanjanam. Priests washed the processional deities with sandalwood paste, turmeric, milk, curd and honey, amidst the chanting of Pancha Suktams.
Both Pedda Jeeyar and Chinna Jeeyar Swamijis, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), additional executive officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdhary were among those present. Following the Snapana Tirumanjanam, temple priests performed Pavitra Pratista. In the evening, processional deities will take a celestial ride around the four Mada streets, blessing pilgrims who converged to witness the grandeur of Lord Malayappa Swamy draped in dazzling gold and diamond jewels.
It may be mentioned here that Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) celebrates the Srivari Pavitrotsavam every year during the Sravana Masam on the important days of Ekadasi, Dwadasi and Thrayodashi. Saluva Mallaiah Deva Raja started the Srivari Pavitrotsavam at Tirumala in 1463 AD during the period of Saluva Narasimha, as per inscription 157 present in the Srivari Temple. The significance of the three-day Pavitrotsavam is that temple priests symbolically seek pardon from Lord Venkateswara for their acts of omission and commissions committed knowingly or unknowingly during performance of the daily rituals for the presiding deity inside the hill temple all through the year. During these three days, Tirumanjanam and Homam are performed for the main deity and as well as the primary idols of Lord Sri Venkateswara.
