Tirupati's resident deity Lord Venkateswara tied the knot around Goddess Padmavathi in the presence of lakhs of devotees from in and around Mumbai on Saturday evening.
Known popularly as Srinivasa Kalyanam, this is the first time that the ceremony is being performed outside south India. The programme was organised by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and the South Indian Education Society in Mumbai.
A replica of the temple has been built at the venue. About 70 priests from Chennai carried
out the rituals. However, these are not the same idols that are placed in the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh.
Lakhs of devotees, including a host of VIPs, did not miss the opportunity to get the Lord's blessings. The marriage will be conducted again between 6 pm and 8 pm on December 3.
Dont forget to check our slide show on the Lord's wedding tommorrow.
Image: Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati presided over the celestial wedding.
Photograph: Arun Patil
