Hill shrine glowing with lakhs of flowers
– Flower show attracts thousands of pilgrims every day at Tirumala
– One lakh seedlings planting for Brahmotsavams by TTD
– TTD Grows flowers in 100 acres in Tirumala
– Vertical gardens attracting all eyes
– 35 tonnes flowers using for rituals during Brahmotsavams
It’s green carpet welcome for the pilgrims who throng from across the country and overseas with its serene and aesthetic atmosphere providing a soothing feel to the visitors as soon as they step in the Hill Town.
The ambiance of pink, red, yellow gold, purple aromatic flowers and green leaves welcome the pilgrims as soon as they enter Tirumala after a 9 kms haul by bus or car or after trekking the footpath routes.
The main flowers used for Srivari Kainkaryam includes the colourful and scented ones like roses, lotuses, chrysanthemums, davana, tulasi, Nerium, Tabornamontana, Kanakambaram and Exora. Well knitted garlands or malas are a distinct feature of Srivari temple. Every day nine sets of varieties of garlands are used in the temple.
Flowers are a major component of daily sevas rendered to Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala. TTD has made special efforts to raise ornamental and cut flowers in over 100 acres at Tirumala and in Tirupati which supplies 50 kgs of roses, jasmines, chrysanthemum which are very dear to the deity. There are about 200 varieties of flowers being grown in TTD gardens which includes 95 acres for ornamental and 5 acres for cut flowers.
TTD has plans to put up a large number of floral boards and floral arches for Brahmotsavams to enthral the devotees and infuse freshness, aromatic and spiritual ambiance all around. About 25 arches are coming up with different varieties of flowers and fruits to provide a visual treat to devotees.
During the nine day Brahmotsavam, around 35 tonnes of flowers are going to be utilised for various rituals, vahana sevas etc., most of which is from the donations from Bangalore and Chennai. For the snapana Thirumanjanam ritual TTD plans to put up a fruit, dry fruits and flower arcade at Ranganayukula mandapam. The Garuda Seva special flower garland itself weighs around 100 kg.
The vertical gardens mulled by the TTD garden wing during last year have been a cynosure to all the eyes. There are about seven such gardens in Tirumala providing a visual treat to pilgrims.
The mega exhibition is a huge success in TTD every year with the colourful mythological themes belonging to four aeons Kruta, Treta, Dwapara and Kaliyuga being displayed in Kalyana Vedika.
“According to Garden Deputy Director Srinivasulu, these themes are selected to impart the knowledge among this generation about puranas in an attractive manner. Every day over 25,000 pilgrims visit the exhibition. This will not provide a cynosure to the eyes of devotees but also enlightens them on our epics”, he maintained.
Besides the desi flowers, bright and aromatic flowers from Asian countries like Bangkok, Thailand and Singapore also get blessed in the service of Lord Venkateswara, specially for Brahmotsavam. “Usually these flowers are used to decorate Dwajasthambam for Dhwajarohanam,” said dd gardens.
TTD set a target of planting one lakh seedlings of a variety of flowers especially for Brahmotsavams.”To meet the basic flower needs of the temple rituals, this year we have planted an additional 20% seedlings,’’ says Srinivasulu, the Deputy Director of TTD Garden Department.
By K Nethaji
