The processional deities of Lord Sri Malayappa Swamy and Lord Sri Krishna Swamy enjoyed the ancient sport “Utlotsavam” at hill shrine Tirumala on Wednesday.
This festival of Utlotsavam is customarily observed on the succeeding day of “Krishna Janmashtami” every year in Tirumala where local youth take part in large numbers in this fun filled religious event. Usually the deities charm the devotees but in this unique fete, it was the turn of the deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy and Lord Sri Krishna Swamy to enjoy the enthusiastic fete of their beloved devotees who competed with each other in breaking the mud pots tied atop the poles.
The festival of ‘Utlotsavam’ otherwise known as “Sikhyotsavam” was observed at the famous hill temple of Lord Venkateswara amidst religious ecstasy and gaiety with scores of locals and devotees taking part in this fete which held at 16 areas starting in front of the temple.
The event began with the processional deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy and Lord Sri Krishna Swamy varu taken around in a grand procession on golden ‘Tiruchi’ around the mada streets encircling the holy shrine starting from Pedda Jiyangar Mutt adjacent to Sri Bedi Anjaneyulu Swamy temple.
Speaking on this auspicious occasion, TTD EO Sri Anil Kumar Singhal said, “Every year Utlotsavam is observed with religious fervour atop Tirumala Hill. This is the unique fete which involves pilgrims also as the youth take part enthusiastically in this religious event to break open the mud pots”, he added.
Hundreds of enthusiastic youth who formed into groups among themselves in their resplendent joy vied with others to capture the prize money tied atop a long wooden post smeared with sticky and other oily substances.
It is an interesting event to watch how the youth build a “Human Mount” to break the pot which is tied at about 25 feet from the ground level. Similar event took place at Karnataka Chowltries also. Pilgrims converged in huge numbers at all the places where the Utlotsavams were performed in Tirumala with enthusiasm.
Meanwhile TTD has cancelled arjitha sevas including Kalyanotsavam, Unjal Seva, Arjitha Brahmotsavam, Vasanthotsavam and Sahasra Deepalankara Seva on this occasion.
TTD EO Sri Anil Kumar Singhal, Tirumala JEO Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju, Temple DyEO Sri Rama Rao, Peishkar Sri Ramesh and others took part.