The Karthika Vanabhojanotsavam has been celebrated with religious fervour in Tirumala on Sunday, dec 2nd 2012. Earlier during the day, in the wake of Karthika Vanabhojanotsavam, the temple priests performed Visesha Samarpana to the processional deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy and His consorts. After tastefully decorating the deities, they were brought to Vahana Mandapam. Samarpana was again performed here and later the processional deity of Lord Malayappa Swamy seated on small Gaja Vahanam while the processional deities of Sridevi and Bhudevi were taken out to Paruveta Mandapam in a colourful procession on separate Ivory palanquin.
Then Snapana Tirumanjanam has been performed to the utsava murthies at Paruveta Mandapam between 10.30am to 12.30pm. The deities were seated on a huge golden platform and Tirumanajanam was performed first with spices water followed by milk, curd, honey, coconut water, turmeric paste and finally sandal paste was applied to the deities. Later the deities who were draped in white silk clothes were adorned with Tulsi garlands and the priests in the presence of HH Sri Tirumala Pedda Jiyangar Sri Periyakoil Kelviyappan Sadagopa Ramanuja Jeeyar and HH Sri Chinna Jiyangar Sri Narayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar offered Nakshatra Arti and special arti to the deities marking the completion of the Tirumanjanam ceremony. Later the deities were decorated in colourful silk vastrams and dazzling diamonds studded gold jewels and were seated on a special mandapam inside Paruveta Mandapam.
This festival which was introduced by Sri Tallapaka Pedda Tirumalacharya in the 15th century. This festival has been revived by TTD two years ago. During the holy month of karthika it is a tradition in our country to dine in community called “Sahapankthi Bhojanam”.
