60 kilos of Dharbha mat and 100 kilos of Dharbha rope to be used during Dwajarohanam
Tirumala, 22 September 2025: The celestial procession of the Darbha Mat and Darbha Rope used during the Dhwajarohanam ceremony as a part of Srivari Salakatla Brahmotsavams was held on Monday. The parade commenced from the TTD forest department office, led by its DFO Phani Kumar Naidu and his staff.
Later, the mat and rope made of darbha were placed on the Sesha Vahanam inside the Ranganayakula Mandapam of the Srivari temple. The hoisting of the Garuda flag on the temple on the evening of September 24 marks the beginning of the nine-day Brahmotsavam.
Darbha and its significance in temple rituals: Darbha is a long grass believed to symbolise purity and auspiciousness. The grass is traditionally believed to shield people and environments from negative energies and toxic radiation. Darbha are worn by priests and devotees during rituals to enhance the sanctity of their prayers and protect them spiritually. Darbha embodies both spiritual symbolism and ritual utility, and remains an essential part of Hindu religious life and heritage.
Vishnu Darbha: For the preparation of this sacred mat and rope, every year, the TTD forest staff collects Vishnu Darbha in Chelluru village of Erpedu mandal. It was brought to Tirumala and dried in the low sun for a week, cleaned well and made into mats and ropes. The forest department staff prepared a darbha mat measuring 22 feet long and seven and a 7.5 ft wide, weighing around 60 kg,g while a rope made of Darbha measuring 225m in length and weighing over 100kg. Both these holy grass materials are used during the Dhwajarohanam sacred Garuda flag hoisting ceremony on September 24 between 5:43 pm to 6:15 pm in the auspicious Meena Lagnam.
