Sri Srinivasa Kalyanotsavam – Celestial Wedding Ritual at Tirupati Balaji Temple

Sri Srinivasa Kalyanotsavam is an important ritual or ‘Seva’ held at the Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Temple. The utsava murti or idol of Lord Balaji is the bridegroom and his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi are the brides in the celestial wedding. The rituals followed in the divine marriage ceremony are similar to those observed during Hindu marriages. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the governing body of Tirupati Temple, also conducts the ceremony in important cities and towns in India.

Sri Padmavathi - Srinivasa Kalyanotsavam is a daily ritual performed at the Tiruapti Temple. In the Kalyanotsavam, the idols of Lord Malayappaswami (Balaji) and Sridevi and Bhoodevi face each other. A screen is placed in between the bridegroom and brides. The screen is removed during appropriate time in the ritual for the deities to see each other. The wedding ceremony is held amidst recitation of the Vedic mantras and pronouncing the family pedigree of the brides and bridegroom.

All the traditional aspects involved in a Hindu marriage are performed by priests. Sweets and food is offered to all those present at the celestial wedding. The ritual lasts for around an hour.

Sri Srinivasa kalyanamahostavam is also referred as Vaivahikotsavam or Pendli Tirunal. When the celestial wedding is held outside the Tirupati Temple in major cities and towns in India, it is witnessed by thousands of devotees.

The main aim of conducting this most important ritual associated with Lord Venkateswara in cities and towns is to take the Lord to poor devotees who are unable to visit the shrine.