Tirupati Vasanthotsavam Festival and rituals

Tirupati Vasanthotsavam Festival and rituals

Tirupati Vasanthotsavam is a three-day festival celebrating the arrival of the spring season. The name combines Sanskrit words Vasantha (spring) and Utsavam (festival). This annual event showcases the temple's profound spiritual traditions and elaborate, intricate rituals. The festival was started in 1463 AD by King Achyutaraya during the Vijayanagara dynasty. It is celebrated every year during the Chaitra month, utilizing abundant fresh flowers and aromatic materials. Preparation begins one day prior with the Ankurarpanam ceremony, where nine different types of seeds are sown. Preliminary rituals, including Punya Vachanam, Vaasthu Shanthi, and Samprokshanam, are performed in Ekantham. Lord Malayappa Swami with consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi is then brought to the elaborately decorated Vasantha Mandapam. The ceremonial highlight is the Sanapana Tirumanjanam, a sacred aromatic bath. This ritual uses special herbal preparations and fragrant waters, following methods prescribed in ancient texts.