K M Dayashankar
TIRUPATI, AUGUST 16, 2024: Sri Varalaksmi Vratham festivities of Goddess Padmavathi Ammavaru observed at Tiruchanur temple was a sight to behold for devotees in Tirupati on Friday.
The event was held at the Asthana Mandapam abutting the temple, where the deity was carried in a procession, seated on a colourfully-decorated platform called ‘Padma Peetham’ which was decked up in flowers of all hues. Considered as one of the most important festivals celebrated by women, it is also a major annual event for the temple dedicated to Goddess Padmavathi.
Priests recited ‘Varalakshmi Ashtotharam’ and performed the ritual by chanting the eight different forms of Goddess Lakshmi Devi (Ashtalakshmi) representing wealth, earth, knowledge, love, fame, peace, pleasure and strength. The ‘Vratam’ started at 10 a.m. and lasted for two hours. TTD EO J Shyamala Rao and others participated. In the evening, the deity was taken on a procession on a golden chariot (Swarna Ratham) along the four Mada streets encircling the shrine.
