Uriyadi Utsavam At Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Thirukkoil

On August 29, 2013; Uriyadi utsavam or ‘Utlotsavam’ festival was celebrated at Tirumala with the participation of large number of devotees.

It is a customary practice to perform Uriyadi/Utlotsavam every year on the succeeding day of Sri Krishna Janmasthami in the famous hill town of Tirumala amidst great religious pomp and gaiety where tens of thousands of people converge to take part in the famous traditional sport “Uriyadi or Shikyotsavam or Utlotsavam”. This year, the utsavam began with the processional deities of Sri Malayappa Swamy and Sri Krishna Swamy having purappadu along the four mada streets. As a part of the utsavam, Perumal was first brought to Jeeyar Mutt, followed by Hathirambabaji mutt, Karnataka Chowltries etc. where special pujas were offered. Usually the pilgrims often get mused to see the grandeur of Utsava Murthies. But in this particular utsavam of Uriyadi/Utlotsavam, hundreds of enthusiastic youth who formed in groups climb upon each other to seize the “Prize money bag” tied atop a wooden log. Even though Uriyadi/Utlotsavams was conducted at different places, the one in front of the main temple complex remained high light of all drawing huge crowds. TTD cancelled arjitha sevas in wake of this festival on Thursday.