The annual nine-day Brahmotsavam of Lord Venkateswara will begin at the Tirumala hills near here from Monday with senior priests hoisting the traditional Garuda flag atop the sacred Dwajasthambham in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

After conducting the weekly celestial bath (Abhishekam) at dawn on Sunday, the presiding deity was adorned with several special diamond studded ornaments by the priests on the eve of the mega festivals, temple sources said.

The entire Tirumala area, including the main temple complex, its sub-temples, the massive queue complexes and other structures on the hills have been decorated.

TTD Chairman B Karunakara Reddy said that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy would arrive here on Monday and offer a set of new silk clothes on behalf of the government to the hill temple.

“Tight security has been put in place on both the hills and in Tirupati in the wake of the recent blasts,” he further said.

Due to adhikamasam that comes once in three years in the Hindu calendar, the TTD would conduct two Brahmotsavams called Navaratri Brahmostavam festivals which would begin on October 12, he added.