TTD to hold 6-day Ashtabandhana Mahotsavam in Vijayawada from today
Addressing the media on Friday, temple head priest Murali Krishna, following the advice of TTD Agama pandits, announced the six-day Ashtabandhana Mahotsavam. This customary ritual is performed every 12 years in TTD temples, during which priests undertake repair works inside the temple's sanctum sanctorum and on idols, if required.
Murali Krishna said the Mahotsavam will be held on a grand scale amidst spiritual fervour, under the supervision of priests from TTD Tirumala.
It will begin with Vastu Shanti and Akalmasha Homam, performed from 8:30 am to 10:30 am on July 26, followed by Ankurarpanam from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm the same day.
The priest further informed that darshan of the presiding deity, Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy, will be suspended during the event, as the idols will be temporarily moved from the sanctum sanctorum to the Homa Gundam in Yagashala. They will be reinstated in the sanctum with Alaya Pravesham between 7:30 am and 9:30 am on July 31.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Villa Prices in Dubai Might Be Lower Than You Think!
Villa for sale in Dubai | Search Ads
Learn More
Undo
Murali Krishna urged devotees and the public to participate in large numbers and make the Mahotsavam a grand success. He added that the temple administration will distribute food to 5,000 devotees. TTD Superintendent, SVS Group of Temples, M Mallikarjuna Rao and others were present.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
HC stays Morjim beautification work over green concerns
Panaji: The high court on Tuesday ordered an immediate stay on the beautification work being carried out on Morjim beach through Goa Tourism Development Corporation. The HC issued a notice to govt after a petitioner showed the court pictures purportedly of the site where sand dunes were being destroyed with heavy machinery. Captain Gerald Fernandes, a former Indian Army officer and resident of Morjim, filed the PIL seeking urgent intervention of the HC to halt the ongoing work at the ecologically sensitive Morjim beach. This site is an officially designated turtle nesting area for the endangered olive ridley turtles , safeguarded under the Wildlife Protection Act and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011. Fernandes, represented by advocate Om D'Costa, submitted to the HC that the beach beautification project, valued at Rs 9.8 crore by GTDC, is proceeding without mandatory statutory approvals and without a construction licence from the panchayat. The flattening of the sand dunes on the beach is being carried out, the plea said. The development activity poses an imminent and irreparable threat to the turtle nesting habitat, sand dunes, and natural ecosystem of Morjim beach, the plea said. The panchayat and Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority granted NOCs in apparent disregard of the site's protected status and its proximity within 200 metres to the high tide line, Fernandes submitted to the division bench comprising justices Bharati Dangre and Nivedita Mehta. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Enjoy 100% Pure New Zealand and fly Air New Zealand Fly Air New Zealand Undo Fernandes, who is a recipient of Goa govt's wildlife conservation award for protecting the olive ridley habitat at Morjim, has also been recently nominated by the HC to the noise monitoring committee. He stated that beaches and their attendant sand dune vegetation are beautiful in themselves and don't need concrete props from any external agency. 'In fact, the sand dunes and sand dune vegetation have major ecological functions and provide ecosystem services,' Fernandes submitted to the HC. He said, 'The project proponent is actively committing to destroying Goa's natural tourism assets instead of protecting them.' GTDC has been involved in launching a similar project to beautify Baina beach at Vasco, which was cancelled by the HC. A second beach beautification project at the same location a decade later was also cancelled on the grounds of violation of the CRZ notification, which is pending before the Supreme Court after GTDC challenged it, Fernandes said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Govt permit brings cobras back to Battis Shirala after 23 years; activists report violations at Nagpanchami event
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kolhapur: Live snake displays returned to Battis Shirala on the occasion of Nagpanchami after a gap of nearly 23 years as govt employed an "educational purposes" workaround to a 2014 Supreme Court ban on capture, display and worship of the reptiles. In this Sangli district town, located 50km from here, 21 men handled live Indian cobras (Naja naja) on Tuesday after obtaining special permits. The permits, issued by Srinivasa Rao, the chief wildlife warden and principal chief conservator of forests, Nagpur, on Monday (July 28), allowed the capture of the cobras solely for educational purposes aimed at promoting traditional knowledge on snake conservation. The permits are given to 21 residents of Battis Shirala to capture the snakes over five days starting July 27, under Section 12 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and Maharashtra Wildlife Protection Rules, 2014. Each permit holder has paid Rs 1,427 to the forest department and is required to release the snakes back into their natural habitat without any mortality. However, despite the ministry of environment, forests and climate change's explicit stipulation that "no commercial or entertainment of any kind shall be permitted," animal rights activists reported some violations at the event. Sangli-based animal rights activist Koustubh Pol, who witnessed the Nagpanchami celebrations in Battis Shirala on Tuesday, criticised the event. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why are some Chinese youth calling themselves 'rat people', and what issues does it surface? CNA Read More Undo "Strangely, the permission was given on the eve of Nagpanchami, and yet almost a hundred Nag mandals had cobras on the morning of the festival. If all this is for an educational purpose, then why was the permit given only for Battis Shirala village? This looks pre-planned for political benefits. Though permission was given for 21 snakes, almost 100 Nag mandals took part in the celebrations with live cobras." Rahul Shinde, an ophiologist based in Solapur, argued that the display of snakes during the festival violated the Supreme Court order. "The permits were issued in haste. Those who are really into snake conservation efforts are punished for handling the snakes. At the same time, such permissions are granted. This is not okay. Did the authorities check whether the snakes are fed well and looked after before granting the permission? The snakes get stressed when they are surrounded by humans; they are cold-blooded animals and cannot withstand the high body temperature of humans. Also, ground vibrations due to the high-decibel sounds make snakes susceptible to strokes. They may ultimately die," he said. The TOI team visiting Battis Shirala also observed snakes being removed from pots and crowds dancing to high-decibel music. Informational posters were displayed only when snakes were taken out of the pots. Officials had expected the snakes to be showcased on platforms with informative boards in the background, with only the permit holders handling the snakes and providing oral information to the public. Jaysing Mahadik, forest ranger of the Shirala forest range, said, "The 21 mandals were given specific places to display one snake each and make people aware of the importance of the snake. The permission was given to do away with the misconceptions, which lead to the killing of snakes. We will gather all details on if the permit rules were violated after all teams sit together and will subsequently proceed with the action prescribed. " Bajrang Tukaram Kadam, a 35-year-old member of the Shri Ganesh Nagraj Mandal, adhered to the directives by explaining the ecological importance of snakes to visitors. "Snakes do not drink milk. They are friends of farmers. There are very few species that are venomous; however, due to fear and superstition, people tend to kill all snakes. Snakes are an important part of the ecosystem," he said. Battis Shirala had not displayed live cobras for 23 years before this year's event. The town is renowned for its long-standing tradition of worshipping live cobras during Nagpanchami. According to Siddharth Patil, a young resident, the community ensures that no snakes are harmed during the capture and worship process. "My father told me that experienced people associated with nag mandals used to go out after the Bendur festival, around two weeks before Nagpanchami, to catch the snakes. No snake was harmed. The snakes were nurtured, and after worship, they were released into their habitat. We consider the snake a god, and no one wants to harm snakes in any way," he said. Local residents, including women from the town's population of 35,000, consider cobras their brothers. Sadhana Naik, a resident, expressed gratitude towards govt for facilitating the worship, saying, "For us, the snakes are brothers. We thank govt for finding a way out to help us worship our brother." In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that capturing, displaying, or worshipping live snakes was not protected as a fundamental religious right and violated wildlife protection laws. Cobra and other venomous snakes such as Russell's viper, spectacled cobra, and monocled cobra are listed as Schedule I part C animal in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, to ensure their conservation.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
PAU welcomes new batch with open arms
Ludhiana: The department of agricultural journalism, languages and culture (AJLC) at PAU kick-started a two-week orientation-cum-induction programme — Deeksharambh — for newly admitted students Tuesday. Designed to help freshers integrate into university life, the programme will continue till Aug 8, offering them a guided exploration of the academic, para-academic and cultural ecosystem of PAU. Satbir Singh Gosal, vice-chancellor, PAU, shared the university's landmark achievements in teaching, research and extension. Urging students to harness their curiosity, he encouraged them to pursue excellence, engage actively with the learning environment, and contribute meaningfully to the university's legacy of innovation and service to the nation. On the academic road map, Manav Inder Singh Gill, dean (postgraduate studies), offered insights into the university's academic structure, scholarship opportunities, and career support mechanisms. He urged students to set ambitious goals, step out of their comfort zones, and work towards becoming skilled and employable professionals. Welcoming the new entrants, Sheetal Thapar, professor and head, AJLC, underscored the objective of Deeksharambh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Donating Sperm May Boost Your Income SpellRock Undo She emphasised the significance of academic discipline, ethical grounding, and a collaborative student-teacher dynamic as the cornerstone of holistic learning. An overview of the programme was presented by course coordinator Sumedha Bhandari. Students were introduced to the deans, directors and officers of PAU to familiarise them with the university's administrative framework and key leadership. A compelling session on stress management was conducted by Sarabjeet Singh, former head, AJLC, who used real-life experiences to drive home the importance of emotional resilience. The interactive segment that followed saw students engaging enthusiastically with faculty and university officials, clarifying doubts and sharing their expectations. The ice-breaking session saw the appointment of class representatives and "Leader of the Day," setting the tone for peer bonding and student-led participation in daily reflections. This early leadership structure is aimed at fostering responsibility and camaraderie from the outset. In the post-lunch session, VP Sethi addressed the students on the university's anti-ragging policy and grievance redressal mechanisms, sensitising them to a safe and inclusive campus environment. TS Riar, additional director (communication), initiated an engaging session titled "Know Your University," which included a virtual tour of PAU's academic blocks, laboratories, central library, museums, cafeterias, and other key facilities. A documentary film created by the Communication Centre was also screened, capturing the university's academic depth, research legacy and vibrant student life. Ashoo Toor, associate professor, AJLC, proposed the vote of thanks, acknowledging the enthusiastic participation of students and speakers alike. The day concluded with the submission of feedback forms and a brief summary of the day's highlights, delivered by the appointed Leader of the Day. In the days to come, the orientation programme will continue with focussed sessions on academic orientation, career guidance, value-based learning, co-curricular engagement and mental wellness, shaping a comprehensive foundation for the incoming batch of students.
