Dwajarohanam was ceremoniously performed at the famous hill temple of Lord Venkateswara on Friday heralding the commencement of the nine-day annual Brahmotsavams.
The sacred yellow cloth with the imprint of Lord Garuda was ceremonially hoisted atop the ‘Dwajasthambham’ (flag post) inside the hill temple at the pre-designated ‘sumuhurtham’ in Meena Lagnam between 5.36 p.m. and 6 p.m.
After observing a series of religious formalities at the Dwajasthambham under the aegis of the two pontiffs of the hill temple, the Dwajarohanam ceremony was carried out amidst great spiritual ecstasy amidst chanting of vedic hymns by a battery of Sri Vaishnavite pundits in addition to the rhythmic beat of the temple drums - the thunderous echo of which was felt across the town.
It was immediately followed by Asthanam to the deities at the Tirumalaraya mandapam inside the temple complex. Earlier, in connection with the ceremony, the processional deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy flanked on either side by His two divine consorts along with His Parivara Devathas including Anantha, Garuda, Chakrathalwar and the Chief-of-the- Army of Lord's domain Viswaksena were taken around the ‘mada streets’ encircling the holy shrine in a grand procession.
Immense importance is attached to the procession of the Garudapatam that preceded the Dwajarohanam ceremony. History has with it that Lord Garuda goes round the temple complex extending invitations to all the celestial bodies and super natural powers like Yaksha, Gandharva, Kinnera, Kimpurusha besides eminent sages to grace the divine wedding of Lord Venkateswara believed to be performed by none other than Lord Brahma.
The first day of the festival culminated with the procession of the golden Pedda Sesha Vahanam in the night.
