The deity of Goddess Padmavati Ammavaru is taken in a procession on Surya Prabha Vahanam around the Tiruchanur temple in Tirupati on the occasion of Ratha Saptami on Sunday. | Photo credit: KV Poornachandra Kumar
The deity of Goddess Padmavati was taken out in dazzling processions on various celestial carriers around the Tiruchanur temple here on the occasion of Ratha Saptami on Sunday. As the festival also coincided with Surya Jayanti, the celebrations took on special significance in Tiruchanur, which also houses an exclusive temple of Lord Surya Narayan.
As in other temples under the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the deity was brought out at dawn and fixed on the Surya Prabha Vahanam, symbolizing the Sun God. This was followed by processions on Hamsa Vahanam, Aswa Vahanam, Garuda Vahanam and Chinna Sesha Vahanam till noon. In the afternoon, Snapana Tirumanjanam, a ceremonial heavenly bath, was performed with milk, curd, honey, coconut water, turmeric and sandalwood paste. Later in the evening the Goddess was taken out on Chandra Prabha and Gaja Vahanams.
As Ratha Saptami involves a day-long procession, it is observed as Mini Brahmotsavam in all TTD temples. At the Surya Narayana Swamy temple, the deity was mounted on the Aswa Vahanam at dawn to give darshan to a large number of devotees.
Cultural groups performed devotional concerts and performed Kolatam and Chekka Bhajan before the procession under the auspices of TTD’s promotional wings such as Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishat, Dasa Sahitya Project and SV Music and Dance College. Meanwhile, a similar procession took place around the Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple in Tirupati, where the deity was mounted on seven different vahanams and offered blissful darshan to the devotees.
Published – 25 Jan 2026 20:22 IST
