'Vaikunta Ekadasi' celebrated in Balaji temple

Tirumala, Dec 20: Thousands of devotees witnessed the annual ''Vaikunta Ekadasi'' at Lord Venkateswara temple here this morning.

The processional deity of Lord Malayappaswamy, along with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, decorated with flowers and mounted on a golden chariot, was taken out in a grand procession around the Four Mada Streets of the temple. Earlier, the ''Vaikunta Dwaram'' (gates to the heaven) in the temple was opened in the wee hours after performing various rituals.

On the occasion, temple seers recited verses when the processional deity entered the ''Vaikunta Dwaram''. The rush of devotees was expected to continue till tomorrow and hence the Dwaram would remain open till then for darshan.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman B Karunakar Reddy, TTD Executive Officer K V Ramanachary and Temple Joint Executive Officer G Balaramaiah were among those who participated in the procession.

UNI