Devotees take part in Rathasapthami festival

Thousands of devotees from all over the country took part in the annual Rathasapthami festival on the occasion of auspicious Suryajayanthi at the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara near here today.
After performing special rituals to the main deity in the in the wee hours, the ancient processional idol of Lord Venkateswara, adorned with precious ornaments, was placed on seven different sacred golden 'vahanas' (carriers).
The vahanas- 'Surya', 'Chinna Sesha', 'Garuda', Hanuman', 'Kalpavriksha', 'Sarvabhupala' and 'Chandran'-- was taken out in a procession at different intervals separately from dawn-to-dusk, temple sources said.
'Rathasapthami' is observed as an important festival on the occasion of Suryajayanthi at the temple since many centuries, temple sources said.

The main event of sacred golden Surya Prabha Vahana procession began just before dawn today, temple PRO Talari Ravi said.