Thirupathi, 17 December 2011: The temple city of Tirupati always remains abuzz with devotees going to Tirumala from the second fortnight of December till January 15 in view of New Year, Vaikunta Ekadasi and Sankranti.
On January 1 and on Vaikunta Ekadasi, falling on January 5, ‘Tiruppalli Ezhuchi’ will be sung from 1 to 3 a.m. at the Govindaraja temple here. On January 5, the deity will be taken out on a palanquin to the Ramachandra Pushkarini, where ‘Asthanam’ will be held.
At the Padmavathi temple at Tiruchanur, Dhanurmasa darshan will be allowed from 4 to 4.30 a.m. on January 1 and from 5 to 6 a.m. on January 5. On Vaikunta Ekadasi, the deity will be taken out in a procession on ‘Tiruchi Vahanam’ around the temple at 11 a.m.
Likewise, ‘Sudarsana Chakrathalwar’ will get a celestial bath at the Panchami Theertha Mandapam (from 8.30 to 10.30 a.m.).
At the Kodandarama temple, the New Year special rituals will begin at 2 a.m. At the Kalyana Venkateswara temple (Srinivasa Mangapuram) and the Padala Mandapam (Alipiri) temple, the rituals will be on the lines of those conducted at the Tirumala temple.
New Year darshan will begin at 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. respectively at the Prasanna Venkateswara temple (Appalayagunta) and the Veda Narayana temple (Nagalapuram), while Vaikunta Ekadasi darshan will be allowed from 5.30 a.m. and 4.45 a.m.
At the Sri Venugopala temple at Karvetinagaram, Vaikunta Ekadasi darshan and Dwadasi darshan (on January 6) will begin at 4.30 a.m. and 3.45 a.m.