Mani alias M. Subramanyam, a local tailor, presents three sets of the drapery to adorn the ‘Kulasekhara Padi’, ‘Ramulavari Meda’ and ‘Bangaru Vakili’ thresholds in front of the sanctum sanctorum every year, The Hindu has reported.

The sacred curtains of Lord Venkateswara temple is carried every year on the head with great devotion on the trekking route to Tirumala. But for a change it has been taken by a four-wheeler this year.

Mani alias M. Subramanyam, a local tailor, presents three sets of the drapery to adorn the ‘Kulasekhara Padi’, ‘Ramulavari Meda’ and ‘Bangaru Vakili’ thresholds in front of the sanctum sanctorum every year.

The curtains are changed after ‘Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam’, a cleansing ritual of the sanctum sanctorium. It is performed four times a year ahead of Ugadi, Anivara Asthanam, Deepavali and Vaikuntha Ekadasi, all occurring in a gap of around three months.

It has been the practice for the tailor for over a decade to personally stitch the curtains, carry them by foot to Tirumala and offer the same to the temple authorities a day before the ‘Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam’.

Every year, he chooses a unique theme to be depicted on the main curtain. This year, the curtain bears an image of Goddess Mahalakshmi, seated atop a ‘Poornakumbham’, which again is placed on a lotus, with a ‘Chakra’ and ‘Sankhu’ drawn on either side.

The extended lockdown enforced in view of COVID-19, which followed ‘Janata Curfew’ has drastically reduced human movement.

Keepin in mind the threat of wild animals straying onto the deserted trekking route, the TTD officials were hesitant to grant permission to Mr. Mani to carry the curtains on foot.

As even the two ghat roads are closed down for common people, and only those vehicles on official duty are allowed to ply, the security officials finally decided to accord him special permission to take the curtains by road.

Mr. Mani came all the way up to the Alipiri by foot, paid obeisance to the imposing Tirumala hills, and boarded the car to Tirumala with the holy curtains.

Image Source: Wikipedia