Brahmotsavam at Tirumala begins

Tirupati: The nine-day Brahmotsavam festival of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near here began on Saturday with hoisting of sacred 'Garuda flag' atop the golden 'Dwajasthambham' (holy mast) inside the temple.

The over 2000-year-old temple was celebrating two Brahmotsavams due to 'adhika masam' (extra month) this year with 13 months against the usual 12 months in the traditional Hindu lunar calendar, which falls once in four years, officials of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, which manages the temple told PTI here.

While the 'Salaktla' Brahmotsavam began on Saturday, the 'Navaratri' Brahmotsavam would be conducted from October 8, they said.

Andhra Prdesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah would offer a pair of silk cloths to the temple on the 'Garudaseva day' on the fifth day of the Brahmotsavam on September 15, they said.

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Surveillance cameras were placed at several places as security measure during the Brahmotsavam period.

A thick security blanket is being put in place at Tirumala, including the seven-km-long walkers' stone stairway leading to the hill shrine from Tirupati and the ghat roads on the hills, they said.