Tirumala: Tirupati priests offer free marriages & 'karnavedha' (ear piercing) for devotees

Tirumala: Tirupati priests offer free marriages & 'karnavedha' (ear piercing) for devotees

TTD now offers free wedding ceremonies and subsidized rates for rituals at Tirumala’s Kalyana Vedika, including ear piercing for Rs 50. Annual Brahmotsavams have begun, drawing heavy crowds and long waiting times for darshan at Sri Venkateswara temple.

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Tirupati: In a significant move that will benefit thousands of devotees, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has announced a new initiative to make religious sacraments more accessible. The TTD, which manages the world-renowned Sri Venkateswara temple, stated that wedding ceremonies will now be performed by members of the Tirumala Priests Association free of charge.

This devotee-friendly decision ensures that while the essential priestly services for the wedding are complimentary, families will only need to bear the costs for external arrangements such as catering and floral decorations.

Affordable rituals at Kalyana Vedika

Starting Monday, the TTD has operationalized a range of traditional rituals at the spacious Kalyana Vedika, located on the Papa Vinasanam road in Tirumala. According to Joint Executive Officer V Veerabrahmam, these services are being offered at nominal charges to ensure convenience for the common devotee.

The Purohita Sangham (Priests Association) will conduct important ceremonies strictly in accordance with Vedic scriptures. These include major life events such as Upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony), Namakaranam (naming ceremony), and Aksharabhyasam (initiation into education).

Service charges and fee structure

Devotees planning to perform rituals at Tirumala can now avail of the following subsidized rates fixed by the TTD:

• Marriage: Free of cost
• Upanayanam & Satyanarayana Vratham: Rs 300
• Keshakhandana (Tonsure) & Dastra Puja: Rs 200
• Namakaranam, Annaprasana & Aksharabhyasam: Rs 200
• Vahana Puja (Vehicle worship): Rs 200
• Ear Piercing (Karnavedha): Rs 50 (at the venue) / Rs 100 (at the cottage)
• Melam (Musical ensemble): Rs 100 (one set) / Rs 300 (two sets)

Devotees wishing to utilize these services are requested to contact the Priests Association directly at the Kalyana Vedika.

Annual Brahmotsavams begin

Amidst these administrative announcements, the spiritual fervor in the temple city has peaked with the commencement of the annual Brahmotsavams of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy at Srinivasa Mangapuram. The nine-day festival began on Sunday with the sacred Dhwajarohanam ceremony, conducted in the Kumbha Lagnam as per Vaikhanasa Agama traditions.

TTD Executive Officer M Ravichandra confirmed that the festivities will continue until February 16. Elaborate arrangements have been made to manage the crowds, particularly for the Garuda Seva on February 12, which is expected to witness a massive influx of pilgrims. Other key events include the Swarna Rathotsavam on February 13, Rathotsavam on February 15, and the concluding Chakrasnanam on February 16.

Heavy rush of pilgrims

The temple town is already witnessing a heavy rush. On Sunday alone, 81,777 devotees had darshan, with waiting times in the 31 compartments stretching between 15 to 18 hours. The TTD has deployed special teams to ensure the safety and smooth movement of the pilgrims during the festival period.