By M.Gopal Reddy

Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Sep.27 (ANI): The famed Venkateshwara Temple atop the Tirumala hills in Tirupati city of Andhra Pradesh hail the Dussera festival with a colourful annual “Brahmotsavam” procession of the temple deities in golden chariots. Thousands of devotees converged here on the eighth day of ongoing Dussera festival on Saturday (Sep.26) to attend the religious procession which started from Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple and passed through the city.Organised during the Dussera festival, the “Tirumala Brahmotsavam” will culminate on Monday (Sep. 28).A large number of devotees from different parts of the country arrive here to witness the processions taken of each of the 10-day festival and participate in the celebrations.The festivities are carried out on different chariots in which the idols of the presiding deities are taken around the temple premises to the music of Nagaswaram and the beats of the drums.Hindus revere the shrine of Lord Venkateshwara atop the 860 metres high hills of Tirumala, as one of the most venerated pilgrimage centres in the country.As per legend, Brahma, the Lord of creation, mooted this festival at Tirupati and hence known as Brahmotsavam, meaning Brahma’s Utsavam.In generalm Brahmostavam is an annual temple festival performed to its deity that is celebrated at mass scale. It is in honour of and in obeisance to Lord Sri Venkateshwara and to mark the occasion of the Lord entering into Ananda Nilaya. Since then, the ritual of Brahmotsavam is in vogue and is being celebrated every year. (ANI)