Tirupati returns to pre-pandemic normalcy as devotees throng float fest
India Today
After almost two years, the annual 5-day float festival took place in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati. Due to the Covid pandemic, only temple staff were allowed for the last two years without access to devotees.
After a gap of two years, the annual float festival commenced on a spectacular religious note in Tirumala on Sunday, March 13. Due to Covid restrictions, this five-day annual feast was observed in Ekantham (no public allowed, only temple staff) in the last two years in Swamy Pushkarini.
On Sunday, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya Sameta Sri Ramachandra Murty took a celestial ride on the finely decked float for three rounds in Swamy Pushkarini.
The devotees were mesmerised to see the divine charm of deities on the tastefully decorated float. After almost two years, TTD has also started a Sarvadarshanam facility for ordinary devotees. It was stopped during the pandemic.
In February, a stunning 10,95, 724 devotees offered prayers at the hill abode of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala hills in Tirupati.
The temple, which is one of the richest Hindu temples in the world, also received Rs 79.34 crore in its ‘hundi’.
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