The annual floral festival of Pushpayagam has been performed with religious fervour at Lord Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala on Monday. The processional deity, Malayappa Swamy, and his Consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, were brought to the Kalyanamandapam in Sampangi Prakaram where Snapana Tirumanjanam was performed. Later, the deities were given a celestial floral bath with over seven tonnes of 18 varieties of traditional flowers including Chamanti, lily, rose, Nandivardhanam, Tulasi, Maruvam and Davanam.
According to the temple history, the festival dates back to 15th century and is reinstated by TTD in 1980. It is usually performed after annual Brahmotsavams of the respective temple as a purification ritual to the omissions and commissions performed either knowingly or unknowingly by the temple priests, authorities and even pilgrims.
This festival is also performed to appease Mother Nature from the natural calamities, including droughts, floods, volcanic eruptions, epidemics and other disasters. The TTD has cancelled Arjita Sevas including Tiruppavadai, Kalyanotsavam, Brahmotsavam, Unjal Seva and Vasantotsavam for the day.