[1]The dazzling umbrellas that had been specially made in the city to be used during the Garudotsavam (fifth day of the annual Brahmotsavam) at Lord Venkateswara temple are being taken in a procession to Tirupati.
The Thirukudai (umbrella) procession holds special significance with 10 decorated umbrellas — two big and eight small — believed to symbolise Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati being taken every year in a procession in the city and then to Tirupati to be handed over to TTD officials.
These will be used during the grand procession of the Lord during Garudotsavam. Two of the umbrellas are offered to Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru (the consort of Lord Venkateswara) at Tiruchanoor.
The huge umbrellas are excellent pieces of art and are made of teak with the collapsible parts made of cane.
Brocade silk is used for the umbrella cover and it takes nearly a month for the work to be completed before it is assembled.
New ticket counters for devotees
New information centres and new ticket counters for Tirupati devotees will come up at Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore and Palghat, said Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) trustee N. Kanniah.
The trustee also said that there is a shortage of cottages for pilgrims leaving from Tamil Nadu and this has been taken up with TTD.
At present cottages are available to accommodate 40,000 devotees and to meet the growing demand rooms for 1,700 devotees are being constructed at a cost of Rs 35.88 crores. However, there is a shortage of cottages for about 8,000 devotees, he said.
The demands of the devotees from Tamil Nadu have been taken up with TTD.
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