Elaborate preparations are under way for the 352nd Saptaratrotsavalu of Raghavendra Swamy in Mantralayam. The events are set to begin on Tuesday and continue until September 4.
Arrangements are being made for drinking water, accommodations, medical camps, sanitation, food services, queue management, and traffic control. Traffic diversions will be done on two significant dates -- Purva Aradhana on August 31 and Maharathotsavam on September 2. Both are expected to draw thousands of devotees.
Subhudendra Teerthulu, the head of the mutt, said the construction of a mini airport in Mantralayam is in progress on 100 acres of land. Every rupee donated to the mutt is being used for the development of pilgrim facilities at Sri Mutt.
Special arrangements have been made to facilitate quick darshan for the elderly and disabled devotees.
The events start with Dhwajarohana, Dhaanya Puja, Aswa Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Gopuja and various cultural events on the 29th. The next day, Sakhotsavam and Utsavamurthy Uregimpu would be the main events. On the 31st, as part of Purvaradhana, the Nirmala Visarjanam, Panchamritabhishekam and presentation of Raghavendra Prashasti awards to eminent personalities would take place.
September 1 marks the day of Raghavendra Swamy's Madhya Aradhana in connection with Jeeva Samadhi day, featuring an official procession by TTD representatives carrying silk attire, a special Ksheerabhishekam and display of scriptures of Raghavendra Swamy in a golden chariot.
The next day, as part of the Uttaradhana, the Maharatha festival will be celebrated with a fielding of a horse-carriage, with flower showers from a helicopter, kolatam, bhajans, puppet shows, mythological drama scenes, Bajabhajantris and beerappadollu vadyam.
The Maharathotsavam will commence from Raghavendra Circle and return to Sri Mutt.
On September 3, the worship of Sujnanendra Teertha, a disciple of Raghavendra Swamy is the main event.
The festivities conclude on September 4 with the Pancha Rathotsavam procession, followed by offerings to the deities. Cultural programmes will be held at the Yogindra Kalamandapam throughout the seven-day Utsavam.
Manager of the mutt, SK Srinivasa Rao, said several dormitory and other facilities have been arranged to accommodate the devotees. These include the Narahariteertha dormitory in front of Sujindra Hospital, the Moolarama dormitory in Raghavendra Circle, the modernized Vijendra Vasati Griha and the Tungabhadra river corridor.
Special arrangements have also been made at the Durgaramana Kalyana Mandapam, where the facilities like a cloakroom, bathrooms and toilets are arranged.
Governor Justice Abdul Nazeer would visit the mutt on August 31 and he would be accorded a grand welcome and bestowed the Raghavendra Anugraha Prasasthi Award. On September 1, he would offer prayers at the shrine before departing for Amaravati.
