One lakh take part in 'Rathasapthami' at Balaji temple
Around one lakh devotees thronged the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara near here to witness the annual 'Rathasapthami' festival conducted with religious pomp today.
The centuries old 'utsav' idol of Lord Venkateswara, adorned with precious dazzling ornaments, mounted on seven different sacred golden 'vahanas' (carriers) such as 'Surya', 'Chinna Sesha', 'Garuda', 'Hanuman', 'Kalpavriksha', 'Sarvabhupala' and 'Chandran' was taken out in a procession at different intervals separately.
'Rathasapthami' is observed as a festival day on the occasion of Jayanthi of Lord Surya at the hill temple since last two millennia, temple sources said.
All processions and other important connected rituals held in the shrine were telecast live on the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)-run Sri Venktateswara Bakhthi Channel, the sources added.
