Priests hoisting the sacred flag atop the temple flag post during ‘Dhwajarohanam’ ritual performed at the Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple in Tirupati on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: K.V. POORNACHANDRA KUMAR

The annual nine-day ‘Brahmotsavams’ at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)-run Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple began with ‘Dhwajarohanam’, the ceremony marking the hoisting of the sacred flag atop the temple flag post, here on Thursday.

The officiating priest ‘Kankana Bhattar’ Bharat Kumar Deekshitulu participated in the flag hoisting ceremony during the auspicious ‘Mesha Lagnam’ between 9.15 a.m. and 9.30 a.m., when the sacred flag ‘Dhwajapatam’ bearing the imprint of Garuda was hoisted. Vedic hymns were chanted and traditional musical instruments were played on the occasion.

‘Snapana Tirumanjanam’, a celestial bath was given to the processional idols of Sri Sita Lakshmana Sametha Kodandarama in the afternoon.

Pedda Jeeyangar and Chinna Jeeyangar, the senior and junior pontiffs of the Tirumala temples participated in the event, along with Venugopala Deekshitulu, one of the chief priests of Tirumala shrine. Agama advisor Seetaramacharyulu, deputy executive officer C. Govindarajan, assistant executive officer Naga Ratna were also present.