The Great Festival
Brahmotsavam (Sanskrit: Brahma = Brahma [the creator, who is traditionally said to have originated this festival] + utsava = festival; 'the festival instituted by Brahmā') is the principal annual festival of the great South Indian temples. At Tirumalai (Tirupati), the Brahmotsavam draws millions of pilgrims over its nine or ten days and is the largest religious gathering at any single temple in the world.
Ten Vehicles, Ten Days
Each day of the Brahmotsavam, the utsavar deity processes through the temple streets on a different divine vehicle (vāhana):
- Aṅkurārpaṇam (planting ceremony) — Day 1
- Dhvajārōhaṇam (flag-hoisting) — Day 1
- Pedda Śeṣa Vāhana — the great serpent vehicle
- Chinna Śeṣa Vāhana
- Hamsa Vāhana (swan)
- Simha Vāhana (lion)
- Mutyapu Paṇḍiri (pearl pavilion)
- Kalpavṛkṣa Vāhana
- Sarva Bhūpāla Vāhana
- Aśva Vāhana (horse)
- Suryaprabha Vāhana / Candraprabha Vāhana
- Garuḍa Vāhana (the most celebrated)
- Hanumanta Vāhana
The Significance of Garuḍa Sevai
The Garuḍa Vāhana day (Garuḍa Sevai) is the most celebrated — the Lord rides on Garuḍa, His divine eagle, symbolizing the soul's swift liberation. Witnessing the Lord on Garuḍa is believed to grant liberation equivalent to performing all Vedic sacrifices.