Tirumala Brahmotsavams schedule included in in National Tourism Calendar

Tirupathi: The annual brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara, observed at the hill town of Tirumala every year, has been included in the National Tourism Calendar for the first-time ever this year. The schedule of the nine-day mega religious event has been added to the list of events and festivals on the Centre’s ‘Utsav’ portal.

Utsav Portal website is a digital initiative launched by the Union ministry of tourism with an aim to showcase all the events, festivals and live darshans across India to promote different regions of the country as popular tourist destinations worldwide. This portal showcases various elements, dates and details of events and festivals of India on a global platform to increase tourism awareness and opportunities.

In a letter addressed to the Union tourism minister G. Kishan Reddy in November last year, Tirupati MP Dr Maddila Gurumurthy had pointed out that sacred abode of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala was considered the spiritual capital of India by the Hindu community and the world-renowned Lord Shiva temple at Srikalahasti is hailed as the Dakshina Kashi.

He urged the Union minister to include the Tirumala Brahmotsavams and Srikalahasti Maha Shivaratri annual Brahmotsavams schedules in the national tourism calendar. Following a series of meetings held by the MP, the Union tourism ministry finally included the Tirumala annual brahmotsavams schedule in the national tourism calendar on Thursday.

Welcoming the move, MP Gurumurthy thanked the Union tourism ministry for including Tirumala Brahmotsavams schedule in the tourism calendar this year. He said the Utsav portal will have the official website of the temple body, brochures, contact details, the details of how to reach the destination through air, rail and roadways conveniently, thus establishing a better contact with the global tourists and aid them in planning their pilgrimage to Tirumala.