The annual “Maha Sivaratri Brahmotsavams” began on a colourful and traditional note at the Sri Kalahastheeswara Swamy temple in Srikalahasti town on Monday.
Priests hoisted the sacred flag atop the gold-gilded wooden temple flag post in the evening, signalling the launch of the annual fest at the temple, which is revered as “Dakshina Kashi”.
Silk vastram presents
Sri Kanipakam Varasiddhi Vinayaka temple Executive Officer Purnachandra Rao brought silk ‘vastram’ on behalf of his temple to Srikalahasti and presented the same to the temple trust board chairman P. Guravaiah Naidu and Executive Officer D. Bramaramba, who in turn offered it to the priests to be adorned on the special occasion.
At Srinivasa Mangapuram, the deity of Kalyana Venkateswara was carried on a palanquin during ‘Pallaki Seva’ observed on Monday. In the afternoon, a ‘Shobha Yatra’ was taken out from the TTD’s administrative building to the temple, where ‘Lakshmi Haram’ was carried in a procession to the temple.

Garuda Seva
The rare golden ornament is normally adorned on the processional deity of Sri Venkateswara (Malayappa) during Garuda Seva at Tirumala. It was indeed a rare occasion for the local residents and the visiting pilgrims to take a close look at the jewel, which was taken out amid high security.

The jewel was adorned to the deity during Garuda Seva observed in the evening.

Meanwhile at Kapila Theertham, the deities of Lord Kapileswara and Goddess Parvathi were taken on Makara Vahanam in the morning.