Pavithrotsavam
At Sri Vijaya Venkateshwara Tirupati Balaji Dhaam, we celebrate the Srivari Pavithrotsavam annually on the significant days of Ekadasi, Dwadasi, and Trayodasi in the month of Sravana according to the Hindu calendar. This divine festival is known as the 'Festival of Purification.
During these three days, Tirumanjanam and Homam are performed to the main deity and as well as primary idols of Lord Sri Venkateswar Swamy.
As a prelude to this purification festival Ankurarpanam is performed a day before where in nine types of cereals are sowed in an earthen container which marks the beginning of the festival.
The significance of the festival is that the priests symbolically seek the pardon of the Lord for their acts of all omissions and commissions committed either knowingly or unknowingly during the performance of daily rituals to the presiding deity inside the temple all through the year.
On the first day of Pavithrotsavam, Homam (Prayer to Sacrificial Fire) is performed at Yagasala situated inside the temple followed by Snapana Thirumanjanam(celestial bath) for about two hours to the processional deities with sandal, turmeric, milk, curd and honey.
In the evening the processional deities are taken out for a pleasure ride around four mada streets, blessing pilgrims who converge to witness the grandeur of Lord Malayappa Swamy draped in dazzling Gold and Diamond jewels.
On the second day, after Snapana Thirumanjanam(celestial bath) special puja is performed to the silk woven holy threads called “Pavithralu” which are the sanctified threads. The unique feature about this thread is that it has five colours which are Black, Blue, Red, Yellow and Green..
“Pavitralu” will be tied around the head, neck, waist etc of Lord before taken for the procession. They are also tied to various deities inside the temple as well as deities of sub-temples located inside the prakaram including Ananda Nilaya Vimana Venkateswara Swamy, Yoga Narasimha Swamy etc. and also to Lord Sri Bhuvarhaswamy located adjacent to Swami Pushkarini.
These holy silk threads are woven out of a special variety of high quality cotton which is grown exclusively in the land that is meant to grow Tulasi plant which is considered to be sacred for Hindus.
On the third the sacred Homam is performed followed by Snapana Tirumanjanam, followed by rituals like Visesha Samarpana, procession along four mada streets and concludes with Purnahuthi which takes place inside the main temple.