TIRUPATI: The Tirumala temple of Lord Venkateswara will observe Anivara asthanam, the traditional annual accounting festival, on Friday, marking the ceremonial commencement of the temple’s administrative and accounting cycle.
The festival is observed every year on Karkataka Sankranti, which marks the beginning of Dakshinayana in the solar calendar. It derives its name from the Tamil month of Aani, as the ceremony is held on the last day of the month.
The tradition dates back to the period when the Tirumala temple was administered by the Mahants. Anivara asthanam marked the formal assumption of charge by the Mahants and the commencement of the temple’s annual accounts. Although the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) now follows the April-March financial year, the festival continues as part of the temple’s long-standing tradition.
As part of the ceremony, the previous year’s accounts will be ceremonially presented before Lord Venkateswara and new account books for the coming year will be introduced, symbolising that the temple’s administration is carried out under the deity’s blessings.
The rituals will begin at 7 am at the Ghanta mandapam near the Bangaru Vakili. Lord Malayappa Swamy, accompanied by Sridevi and Bhudevi, will be seated on the Sarvabhoopala Vahanam facing Garuda, while Sri Vishwaksena will be seated on a separate pedestal facing south. Special rituals and offerings will also be performed for the presiding deity inside the sanctum.
As part of the ceremony, Tirumala Pedda Jeeyar Swamy will offer six silk garments. Four garments will be presented to the main deity, while one each will be offered to Sri Malayappa Swamy and Sri Vishwaksena.
The traditional presentation of the ‘Lachana’, the symbolic bunch of temple keys, will also be held. The keys will be ceremonially handed over to the chief priest, the Pedda Jeeyar, the Chinna Jeeyar and the TTD executive officer before being placed at the feet of Lord Venkateswara.
The ceremony will conclude with the customary ‘Rupayi Harati’, during which temple staff will offer one rupee each into the temple coffers, followed by the Pushpa Pallaki procession in the evening.
