Brahmotsavam Details

SVT BRAHMOTSAVAM 2010

This year, Sri Venkateshwara (Balaji) Temple of SVT, Helensburgh, completes 25 years since Kumbhabishekam. In celebration and in prayers for His Blessings in our continued service to Hindu Community of Australia as a pre-eminent temple, Australia’s Tirupathy and the abode of Vishnu, the SVT committee plans to conduct Brahmotsavam in October 2010. Along with a new custom-built Chariot for the temple and various communities’ participation, the festival will be celebrated over 10 days (9th to18th October) coinciding with Sri Balaji Brahmotsavam at Tirupathy, in a truly auspicious way.

‘Brahmotsavam’ comes from Lord Brahma, who worshipped Sri Balaji on the banks of holy Pushkarni river in Tirupathy, by way of Thanksgiving for Lord’s protection of mankind. Hence Brahma’s Utsavam, now celebrated as a unique festival in Australia.

SVT Brahmotsavam itself will be performed over a 10 day period from 9th to 18th Oct, 2010. On the prior evening of 8th Oct (Friday) the rite of “Ankurarpana” (sowing of the seeds to signify fertility, prosperity and abundance) is performed along with a festival for Sri Vishvaksena, the leader of Narayana’s retinue who removes obstacles and protects our worship.

A special Ganesa Pooja will be performed on 8th morning, to pay our obeisance to Lord Ganesha as part of the 25th Anniversary Celebration before the formal commencement of Brahmotsavam. On the first day (9th Oct), the main activity is the “Dhvajarohana,” the hoisting of the Garuda flag at the Dhvajastambham. This signifies the commencement of the Brahmotsavam. During the ten days of the festival daily homams will be performed and in the evening the Utsavamoorthy decorated with alankarams will be taken on processions on different vahanas. On the 9th day Sri Venkateswara Utsavamoorthy will be taken around the temple in a traditional decorated chariot. This day being the Janma Nakshatra (birth star) of Sri Venkateshwara, is celebrated in a grand way with Avabhritha Utsava (special abhishekams for the Utsavamoorthy). The priest will take the Sudarsana Chakra on his head and take a holy bath near the Dhvajastambham. Afterwards, the Chakra will be placed on a high platform, so the devotees can walk under it and be blessed with the water dripping down from Sudarsana. The celebration officially concludes on the 18th Oct with “Dhvajavarohanam,” the lowering of the Garuda flag. The priests pay respects to Gods and Sages with the chanting of Vedic mantras and see them off on their return to the Devaloka.

Day 1: SAT 9th Oct, 2010: Dwajarohanam | Sesha Vahanam
Day 2: SUN 10th Oct, 2010: Pallakku Procession | Hamsa Vahanam
Day 3: MON 11th Oct, 2010: Pallakku Procession | Mutthu Pandal Vahanam
Day 4: TUE 12th Oct, 2010: Pallakku Procession | Sarva Boopala Vahanam
Day 5: WED 13th Oct, 2010: Mohini Avataram | Garuda Vahanam
Day 6: THU 14th Oct, 2010: Hanumantha Vahanam | Gaja Vahanam
Day 7: FRI 15th Oct, 2010: Chorna Vahanam | Surya Brabhai Vahanam
Day 8: SAT 16th Oct, 2010: Aswa Vahanam : FIREWORKS!
Day 9: SUN 17th Oct, 2010: CHARIOT Festival | Chakra Snanam
Day 10: MON 18th Oct, 2010: Kalyana Utsavam | Dwaja Avarohanam

Thus, SVT Brahmotsavam provides a unique opportunity for all devotees to participate in the utsavams and experience the “Vaikuntha Anubhava” meaning heavenly enjoyment with the blessings of Sri Venkateswara Swami.

Your Participation in SVT Brahmotsavam 2010:

As a pre-eminent Temple of Australia, SVT is open to all communities, especially Hindus of all nationalities, language & region. We invited all the groups & allocated, as below, to take the lead each day in celebrating Brahmotsavam. While all religious homams & poojas will be conducted by SVT Priests, families can fully participate to receive His blessings in Poojas, annadhanam, pulling Chariot, running cultural events & children’s activities, raising Sponsorships & Donations, volunteering for various tasks & enjoying all 10 days of this unique Festival at SVT Helensburgh, Sydney. Youth are especially requested to volunteer in managing various aspects of the Festival.

Day 1: SAT 9th Oct : Karnataka Group
Day 2: SUN 10th Oct : Andhra Group
Day 3: MON 11th Oct : Tamilnadu Group
Day 4: TUE 12th Oct : South African Group
Day 5: WED 13th Oct : Kerala, Fiji, S'pore, Malaysia groups
Day 6: THU 14th Oct : Srilankan Tamil Group
Day 7: FRI 15th Oct : Sri Vasudevacharya Group + any group
Day 8: SAT 16th Oct : Tamilnadu Group
Day 9: SUN 17th Oct : Srilankan Tamil Group
Day 10: MON 18th Oct : Andhra Group for Kalyana Utsavam only.

Sponsorship: Various sponsorship (Ubhayam) opportunities are available for Poojas and Seva. Please refer to SVT Brahmotsavam Sponsorship Form for more details. Or contact your community group coordinator.

SVT has facilitated various community groups with experts from various fields & volunteers to make this Festival successful. You are invited to participate fully in all aspects of the festival. Let us join hands in worshipping Lord Venkateshwara for His divine protection of mankind in this SVT Brahmotsavam in Oct 2010.

Phone: 1300 626 663 Email: president@svtsydney.org Visit: www.svtsydney.org