Heavy devotee turnout for Panchami Sare and Panchami Theertham celebrations at Tirumala-Tiruchanur

The sacred Panchami Theertham (Chakrasnanam), the grand finale of the annual Kartika Brahmotsavams at the Tiruchanur Padmavathi Ammavari Temple, was performed on Tuesday with thousands of devotees taking part in the holy ritual. The Padma Pushkarini was filled with devotees who took a ceremonial dip along with the Sudarshana Chakrattalwar.

Meanwhile, at the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple, the traditional Panchami Sare ritual concluded on Monday. The event, an important component of annual temple traditions, drew massive crowds eager to witness the ceremonial offering and receive the blessings of Lord Venkateswara.

Temple authorities conducted the Panchami Theertham between 12:10 pm and 12:20 pm, carrying the festival deities in a grand procession to the Panchami Theertham Mandapam. The Sare - a ceremonial offering sent from Lord Venkateswara to Goddess Padmavathi - was brought from Tirumala to Tiruchanur on foot, following the customary route through the four mada streets before reaching the Pasupu Mandapam.

At the Pushkarini, a special snapana tirumanjanam was performed for Ammavaru and the Chakrattalwar, using turmeric, kumkum, fruits, dry fruits, rose petals of various colours, tulasi garlands and traditional ornaments.

As part of the festivities, Lord Venkateswara offered a golden lotus garland weighing 1.14 kg to Goddess Padmavathi, valued at ₹1.31 crore, along with other ornaments sent as part of the sacred Sare.

Later in the evening, the temple scheduled Pushpayagam between 5 pm and 8 pm, where the deities are worshipped with special floral offerings.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) stated that elaborate arrangements were in place to ensure a smooth experience for the large influx of devotees. Additional security, crowd-management teams, sanitation workers, and Srivari Sevaks were deployed to handle the crowds.

TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu said the Panchami Theertham was conducted successfully in the presence of thousands of devotees. He appreciated all TTD departments, district police, Srivari Sevaks and sanitation staff for their coordinated efforts.

A few days earlier, Tirumala witnessed the sacred Kaishika Dwadashi Asthanam, a once-a-year ritual. Between 4:30 am and 5:30 am, the unique form of Lord Venkateswara - Ugra Srinivasa Murthy - along with Sri Devi and Bhu Devi, was taken in a procession through the temple streets. Due to light showers, the deity later gave darshan inside the Ghata Patam Mandapam.

Ugra Srinivasa Murthy, one of the five principal festival deities, is taken out in procession only once a year on Kaishika Dwadashi before sunrise. After the procession, the idol was brought back to the Bangaru Vakili, where the traditional Kaishika Purana Parayanam was performed.