Lord TTD Annual Festival Pavitrotsavam 2012 Celebrations - Tirumala

Lord Malayappa Swamy

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams TTD performs annual festival Pavithrotsavam every year on the days of  Ekadasi, Dwadasi and Chaturdasi  in the month of Sravana Masam(Month). In this year 2012, TTD will be celebrated the Pavithrotsavam on 29-Jul-2012 (Sunday-Ekadasi),30-Jul-2012 (Monday-Dwadasi) and 31-Jul-2012 (Tuesday-Chaturdasi) with Ankurarpanam on 28-Jul-2012 (Saturaday-Dasami).
Ankurarpanam means beginning of the festival.Sowing of nine type of holy seeds in earthen container is undertaken on the ankurarpanam day preceding the festival.This sowing ritual signifies the beginning of the festival.

Significance of Pavithrotsavam :

The Pavithrotsavam is also known as Sravana Pavitrotsavam.This is a three festival. The significance of the festival is that priests symbolically seek the pardon of the Lord for their acts of all omissions and  commissions committed either knowingly or unknowingly during the performance of daily rituals to the presiding deity inside the temple.This festival is known as Purification Festival.During these three days Thirumanjanam and Homam will be performed to the Main deity and as well as primary idols of Lord Sri Venkateswar Swamy.
On the day, Ankurarpanam, the processional deity of Lord Senadhipathi is taken out in procession to the Vasantha Mandapam. 

On the first day Homam(Prayer to Sacrificial Fire) will be performed at Yagasala situated inside the temple followed by Snapana Thirumanjanam(celestial bath) for about two hours  to the processional deities with sandal,turmeric,milk,curd and honey. Later the temple priests conducts Pavitra Pratistha.In the evening the processional deities take a pleasure ride around four temple streets blessing pilgrims who converge to witness the grandeur of Lord Malayappa Swamy draped in dazzling Gold and Diamond jewels.

Lord Venkateswara adorned with Pavithralu

On the second day after Snapana Thirumanjanam(celestial bath) special puja will be performed to the silk woven holy threads called as PAVITHRALU(Holyness) which are in Black,Blue,Red,Yellow and Green colours. These holy silk threads will be adorned to various dities inside the temple as well as deities of sub-temples located inside the temples and also to Lord Sri Varhaswamy located adjacent to Swami Pushkarini. [The holy silk threads will be woven out of the special variety of high quality cotton which is grown exclusively in the land that is meant to grow Tulasi plant which is considered to be sacred].

On the third day Holy Homam will be performed folowed by Snapan Tirumanjanam between 9am to 11am.There will be Visesha Samarpana between 1pm to 4pm followed by procession of deities in four mada streets.The festival will be conclued with Purnahuti which takes place inside the temple in Pavithra Mandapam between 7pm to 9pm.
Note:During these three festival days TTD will cancel all arjitha sevas and will be performed alone.Pilgrims may kindly observe the change.