In connection with the Makara Sankranti Parveti Utsavam, popularly known was parvettai (vettai in tamil means hunting), the processional deity of Lord Venkateswara was taken atop on Golden Tiruchi. The processional deity of Lord Venkateswara which was carried out for hunting was tastefully decorated with ‘professional hunter’s robes’ which drew the attention of thousands of devotees. Lord Venkateswara, equipped with Panchayudhas - Sankham, Chakram, Gada, Bana and Khadgam – was taken on a colourful procession from the temple to the Parveti Mandapam situated 2 km away from the temple.
Thousands of devotees witnessed the hunting safari with great amusement as the deity, mounted atop the golden ’tiruchi’, symbolically ‘hunted’ a couple of deer tied up in the nearby bush. The temple priest headed the ceremony, carrying a golden spear.
The hunting game was repeated thrice even as TTD’s forest personnel fired guns in the air adding more colour to the festival.
