TTD's bhakti channel in Kannada to be launched on Ugadi

The Kannada and Hindi channels of the Sri Venkateshwara Bhakti Channel would be launched on the occasion of Ugadi, on 13 April.

The SVBC board took the decision on Wednesday. SVBC is a hugely popular spiritual channel run by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, presently in Telugu and Tamil.

The TTD is also planning to launch "SVBC Radio", in due course of time, with a focus on relay of Bhakti sangeet and Bhakti literature like the rare sankeetans of Tallapaka Annamacharya, literature of Tarigonda Vengamamba, sankeetans of Purandara Dasa.

Dr KS Jawahar Reddy, executive officer, TTD, directed SVBC officials to procure the equipment needed to convert the transmission into HD mode, in order to provide high-quality telecast of the temple programmes to the devotees.

The EO also wants to strengthen SVBC's social media wing to popularise TTD’s Sanatana Dharma Pracharam activities.

New sacred gardens

To provide flowers for the daily rituals of Lord Venkateswara and enhance the beauty of Tirumala precincts, TTD said it is developing another sacred flower garden in the hill town.

The garden, sponsored by donors, is coming up on a five-acre area land near Bata Gangamma temple where flower plants like marigold, Vrukshi Roja, lily, Madurai jasmine, Kanakambaram, Manu sampangi, and Tulasi leaves, other aromatic leaves are cultivated.

The garden's yield will be available for the pujas at Srivari temple from April to May.

TTD is also developing Sri Venkateswara sacred flower garden as depicted in the puranas, in a 10-acre expanse near the Shila Thoranam, with a Rs 1.5 crore donation.

“25 varieties of aromatic plants considered auspicious will be grown here apart from Tulasi, dharba, sampangi, mango, parijata etc varieties,” officials said.

Sri Venkateshwara sandalwood and Red Sanders gardens are coming up near Gogarbham dam.