Salakatla Ratha Saptami at Sri Govindaraja Swamy Vari Temple on 25th January

The annual Salakatla Ratha Saptami festival will be celebrated with grandeur at the Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple, Tirupati, on January 25.

On this auspicious occasion, Sri Govindarajaswamy along with His consorts, will bless devotees by parading on seven different vahanams (divine vehicles).

As part of the festivities, Sri Chakrattalwar will be taken in a procession from 3 a.m. to 5a.m. to the Alwar Theertham at Sri Kapileswaraswamy Temple, where the Chakrasnanam (holy bath) will be performed.

Later, the vahana sevas of Sri Govindaraja swamy will commence with the Surya Prabha Vahanam from 5.30 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. followed by the Hamsa Vahanam between 8 a.m. and 9a.m., the Hanumantha Vahanam between 9.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. 

The Pedda Sesha Vahanam will take place from 11.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., followed by the Muthyapu Pandiri Vahanam from 1.30 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. From 3.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m., Sri Govindaraja Swamy along with Sridevi and Bhudevi will bless devotees on the Sarvabhoopala Vahanam.

In the night, between 8p.m. and 9.30 p.m., the deity will give darshan mounted on the Garuda Vahanam.

The devotees also refer to Ratha Saptami as Ardha Brahmotsavam or One-day Brahmotsavam. 

On the occasion, cultural programmes will be organised under the auspices of the TTD Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad and the Sri Annamacharya Project.