On the fifth day evening of Srivari Saalakatla Brahmotsavams on Wednesday, more than two lakh devotees from across the country witnessed the ‘Garuda seva’. Malayappa Swamy adorned with several diamond set ornaments, including large multi-folded “Sahasra Nama Kasula Haram” and mounted on the ‘garuda vahana’ (carrier) was taken around in a glittering procession around the more than 2,000-year old temple complex. The palm-sized emerald adorned the chest of the deity was a cynosure to the eyes of the onlookers.
Union cabinet minister Prakash Javadekar, state ministers Pitani Satyanarayana,K.E. Krishna Murthy, Manikyala Rao participated in the grand event.
The devotees started congregating in the galleries around the shrine from the forenoon itself. About one lakh devotees, especially from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, reached the hills by foot, climbing the 10-km long stairway leading to the shrine, TTD administration said. A thick security blanket was put in place on the hills and also roads leading to the hill shrine on the occasion.