Since midnight, thousands of devotees thronged the temple to seek the blessings of the Sun God

metro india news  I amaravati

The auspicious festival of Ratha Saptami, celebrated as the festival of the Sun God, commenced with grandeur across Andhra Pradesh, drawing thousands of devotees to temples from the early hours of the morning. The celebrations at Tirumala and Arasavalli stood out with elaborate rituals and vibrant processions, marking the festival as a spectacular spiritual event.  

At Tirumala, Ratha Saptami was observed with immense devotion, with devotees flocking to the temple town to witness Lord Malayappa Swamy’s grand procession on seven vahanas (divine chariots) throughout the day. The celebrations began with the Suryaprabha Vahana Seva, where the deity was paraded along the Mada Streets of Tirumala in a golden chariot representing the Sun God.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) made extensive arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival. The Suryaprabha Vahanam was positioned towards the northwest direction, ensuring that the first rays of the rising sun touched the deity, marking the divine commencement of the day’s celebrations. Massive crowd management measures were in place to accommodate the influx of devotees.

Furthermore, German sheds were installed in galleries to protect devotees from extreme weather conditions. 130 food counters were set up across the temple premises, distributing tea, coffee, milk, buttermilk, drinking water, tamarind rice, curd rice, and Pongal to devotees. Large LED screens were installed outside the temple for devotees who couldn’t enter the galleries, ensuring they could still witness the sacred processions.  

In Arasavalli, home to the famous Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple, the Ratha Saptami festival was celebrated with extraordinary devotion and arrangements. Since midnight, thousands of devotees thronged the temple to seek the blessings of the Sun God.

The temple’s principal secretary, Vinay Chand, presented silk garments to the deity, marking the commencement of the day’s sacred rituals. Several political leaders, including Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, MLAs Gondu Shankar, Baggu Ramana Murthy, Mamidi Govindarao, and Gouthu Sirisha, visited the temple and offered special prayers.

Devotees were granted a rare Nijaroopa Darshan of Lord Suryanarayana Swamy until 4 PM, a highlight of the festival. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that this year’s arrangements were unprecedented in Arasavalli’s history, thanks to the efforts of the coalition government.

Ratha Saptami, also known as Surya Jayanti, is considered an important festival dedicated to Lord Surya, symbolizing the Sun's northward movement (Uttarayan) and the arrival of longer and brighter days. The festival, observed with deep devotion across Andhra Pradesh, showcases traditional rituals, grand processions, and cultural festivities, reaffirming the spiritual essence of the state’s rich heritage.