Lord Srinivasa weds Goddess Padmavati

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Lord Srinivasa weds Goddess Padmavati

 

BY A STAFF REPORTER | Friday, December 01, 2006 11:17:59 IST

The MMRDA grounds at the Bandra Kurla Complex will play host to this

celestial celebration

 

 

This is one celestial wedding that will have all the Gods and

Goddesses, Devas and all the Rishis in attendance. It's called the

Srinivasa Kalyanam, (known amongst devotees as the celestial

wedding) and this is the first time that it s being performed outside

South India. Organised by the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanams of

Tirupati and the South Indian Education Society in Mumbai, the event

will be held on December 2 and 3 at the MMRDA Gounds in Bandra

Kurla Complex.

The wedding is performed to the oration of the traditional Vedic

chanting. The sacred Utssava Murthis of Lord Srinivasa, the bridegroom

and the two nachimars, the brides are marries following Vedic

ceremonies prescribed in the Shastras. The ambience resonates with

the sounds of the chanting, the ceremonial music and the singing of the

especially composed wedding songs.

Every day over 30,000 devotees visit the Tirumala temple and seek the

blessings of the reigning deity – Lord Venkateswara. Pilgrims stand for

hours as witnessing the wedding at Tirumala is a rare experience.

In face, toe fulfill the ardent desire of millions of devotees in several

cities, the celestial wedding has been performed in Chennai, Bangalore,

Pondicherry and Nellore.

A replica of the temple has been built on the grounds and the idols of

Balaji and Padmavati will be accompanied by 60 priests. These are the

same idols that are placed in the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh.

While the marriage will be conducted between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on

both days, the public can get a darshan from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on

December 4. The priests will be staying at the SIES school campus

during these days. According to the organizers a special caterer has

been called inin prepare the 5 lakh ladoos for the event. And if they fall

short, then the laddoos will be brought in from Chennai and Tirupati.

The idols will arrive decked with gold ornaments and care is being taken

to ensure that no untoward incident occurs. Apart from the 2,000

volunteers from various SIES schools and colleges and adequate police

have been deployed as security.

 

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