Vijayawada: Marking the completion of 12 years since the consecration of Lord Bala Venkateswara Swamy at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Punnama Thota, Vijayawada, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) will organise a six-day Ashtabandhana Mahasamprokshana Kumbabhisheka Mahotsavam from July 26 to 31 at the temple premises.Addressing the media on Friday, temple head priest Murali Krishna, following the advice of TTD Agama pandits, announced the six-day Ashtabandhana Mahotsavam. This customary ritual is performed every 12 years in TTD temples, during which priests undertake repair works inside the temple’s sanctum sanctorum and on idols, if required.Murali Krishna said the Mahotsavam will be held on a grand scale amidst spiritual fervour, under the supervision of priests from TTD Tirumala. It will begin with Vastu Shanti and Akalmasha Homam, performed from 8:30 am to 10:30 am on July 26, followed by Ankurarpanam from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm the same day.The priest further informed that darshan of the presiding deity, Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy, will be suspended during the event, as the idols will be temporarily moved from the sanctum sanctorum to the Homa Gundam in Yagashala. They will be reinstated in the sanctum with Alaya Pravesham between 7:30 am and 9:30 am on July 31.Murali Krishna urged devotees and the public to participate in large numbers and make the Mahotsavam a grand success. He added that the temple administration will distribute food to 5,000 devotees. TTD Superintendent, SVS Group of Temples, M Mallikarjuna Rao and others were present.
