Fervour marks Vaikunta Dwadasi celebrations

The hill temple of Lord Venkateswara witnessed a surge of devotional activity on Wednesday as scores of pilgrims took a holy dip in the temple ‘pushkarini’ on the eve of ‘Dwadasi Chakrasnanam’, a significant ritual associated with the Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations.

In the early hours of the day, the idol of Lord Chakrathalwar was taken out in a traditional procession to Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy temple, located on the north-western side of the ‘pushkarini’, where the priests performed the ‘Chakrasnanam’ in accordance with established temple rituals, amid chanting of Vedic hymns.

Devotees, who had already congregated at the venue, immediately plunged into the ‘pushkarini’ as the priests ceremonially immersed the idol into the tank waters.

The town remained gripped in festive atmosphere and milled with pilgrim activity since the wee hours of the day as the celebrations succeeded the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival the previous day.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) made extensive arrangements to manage the large turnout. Officials ensured smooth crowd movement and provided uninterrupted food and drinking water supplies to pilgrims waiting for darshan.

Meanwhile, Vignan Educational Institutions’ proprietor Lavu Rattaiah contributed ₹1 crore to the TTD-run Sri Venkateswara Vidyadana Trust. The donation, made through a demand draft, was formally handed over to TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu at his camp office.

The evening was dotted with two important meetings relating to the Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad (HDPP) and Balaji Institute of Research and Rehabilitation for the Disabled (BIRRD) wherein permission was granted for the latter to recruit more doctors and paramedical staff in the existing vacant posts, further strengthening the orthopedic and inpatient services at the hospital and also utilise the services of Chennai- based Guvee Health Care Charitable Trust, which had come forward to bear the entire cost of total knee replacement surgery every year for around 100-150 patients possessing Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva cards.