'Ugadi' celebrated with religious fervour at Balaji temple

Tirupati, Mar 20 (UNI) Marked by the performance of rituals like ''Panchanga Sravanam'' and ''Asthanam'' in the sanctum sanctorum between 0700hrs and 0900hrs and other rituals, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) today observed 'Ugadi', the Telugu New Year Day at the temple of Lord Venkateswara here today.

Special 'poojas' were offered to the deities Lord Malayappa and his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, placed at the so-called Golden entrance, on a 'sarvabhoopala vahanam'. They were also offered new silk cloth.

The temple priests ushered in the New Year, rendering the ''Panchanga Sravanam'' seated in front of the deities.

TTD Cairman B Karunakar Reddy, TTD Board members, Executive Officer A P v N sarma and noted playback singers S Balasubramaniam and his sister S P Sailaja, who had performed a musical concert in front of the templ last evening, offered worship in the temple this morning.

The deities were later taken out in a procession through the four Mada streets of the temple in the evening.

Meanwhile, downhill, in Tirupati town, 'Ugadi' was celebrated with traditional gaiety, with the people attired in new clothes, offering the traditional 'Ugadi Patchadi - a dish made of jaggery, tamarind, mango and neem flowers-symbolising the sweet, bitter and sour hues one goes through in his lifetime.

A report from Vijayawada said, people in Krishna District celebrated ''Sarvajit Ugadi', marking the beginning of the New Year in Telugu calendar, with tradition and gaiety.

Devotees offered worship at the famous Kanakadurga temple, atop the 'Indrakeeladri' hill in the city, after a holy bath in the river Krishna. 'Panchanga Sravanam' was also rendered in all the other temples in the city.

UNI