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.

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 invite various families & groups to take the lead each day in organising functions & celebrating Brahmotsavam. While all religious homams & poojas will be conducted by SVT Priests, families can fully participate to receive His blessings in Poojas, doing 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.

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

SVT Brahmotsavam 2010 Guidelines for Community Groups:

SVT Committee cordially invites all community groups to participate, contribute & enjoy this unique occasion of SVT Brahmotsavam in Sydney. Join now, as it offers an opportunity to serve the Lord, serve your community & your family on the 25^th Anniversary of Balaji temple at SVT Helensburgh.

Your Group participation is requested in 4 areas (a) take part in Morning & Evening Poojas & receive your Blessings or Sankalpam (b) Serve the community with Annadhanam for the day (c) organize & run Cultural Program with participation by your community youth/children on the day at the temple premises (d) Sponsorship or Fund rising to collect Funds from your community for Ubhayams (see various Ubhayams listed in Sponsorship Registration Form).

In order to support your participation, SVT has developed these guidelines in consultation with various community groups. We welcome your feedback, Email: secretary@svtsydney.org  or Call Sri: 0401143415

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1. While community groups own/manage their participation on each day of Brahmotsavam, SVT Committee has overall responsibility for the management and operation of the ten day festival, including underwriting the funding and the sanctity of the religious festival.

2. SVT, with advice from Senior Priests, follows the Brahmotsavam traditions set by Tirupathi and has determined the religious/ritual matters accordingly for each day of the festival. The time table for the ten day religious programs has been prepared (6am-12 noon, then 4pm-8pm) & will be followed by all groups.

3. SVT Committee will appoint a Brahmotsavam Committee, consisting of Community Group Representatives to coordinate, liaise and oversee the ten day festival.

4. SVT Committee has been consulting various Hindu Community Groups & devotees since Sept09 & will be completing its deliberations by Nov,09. SVT Committee will call a meeting of the representatives of the groups on 14^th Nov,09 at the temple to allocate the festival dates to the groups by Open/Fair means to achieve the best outcomes for all.

5. The representatives of the Community Groups should mobilize their respective community members (families, youth, elders etc) to ensure the success of their participation on a given day. However, groups, families, members are most welcome to attend the festivities any day.

6. What we require of the groups are:

• Form a group & elect 3-4 Representatives for major activities (such as Annadhanam, Cultural programs, Fund raising, Special Poojas). For example, you may put in place what is most effective promotion or publicity in your language or newsletters/websites and seek participation in Cultural program. SVT will help you. 
• Obtain sponsorship or donations for religious ceremonies from individuals or families. There are three categories of Sponsorship: Gold ($5001), Silver ($3001) & Bronze ($1001). See SVT Brahmotsavam Sponsorship Form for details.  These include sponsorship of Chariot, Vahanams, Alankarams, Priests or Musicians from India etc. 
• In addition, the usual Temple standard abhisekahams, homams, archana etc will continue as normal. Only for the 10 days of Festival, a special Brahmotsavam Archana ticket will be issued at $20, to cater for extra items. 
• Seek your respective community input in relation to the cultural and related events for the day. Liaise with the SVT Cultural Sub-committee to agree on the format, content etc. to ensure best outcomes.
• Inform your community members the day allocated to them and their duties and responsibilities for the day. It is suggested that as the group will be responsible for the Morning and Evening Poojas, it would be wise to organize two separate subgroups to take charge of the two segments so that individuals are not overly burdened with full day’s chores.  
• Ensure that those sponsors and donors are available to receive Sankalpam at the right time at the temple. 
• Mobilise required volunteers for all your activities of the day at the temple.  
• Annathanam will be from 12 noon to 2pm. There will no Annadhanam in the evenings, but distribution of Religious Prasadams is possible. SVT Canteen will be open throughout the day (9am-8pm).   
• It is estimated that each group will cook for 600-800 servings of Annadhanam during weekend/holiday days and 300-400 servings of Annadhanams during week days of the festival. 
• Groups to ensure that all utensils are properly washed and placed back in the store room after the Annadhanam and the cooking premises are cleaned and ready for the next day’s cooking. Temple will provide all the facilities for cleaning, storage and support. 
• Groups may organise bhajans, music, Chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama etc. during Morning and Evening poojas (as facilitated by the priests) 
• Groups may organise members of their community to carry the Vahanas (with Utsavamoorthy) around the temple. 
• Groups are also requested to provide upto 20 young volunteers each day to assist the Temple in areas such as General Cleanliness of the premises, traffic management, Garland making, Canteen Duty etc. 

SVT COMMITTEE’S RESPONSIBILITIES & ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY GROUPS:

In order to support the community groups with logistics & facilities, SVT Committee will

• Construct additional toilets & mother’s rooms. Ensure Rest Areas for Adults & Play Areas for children.
• Provide temporary accommodation for volunteers to stay overnight. Max: 15 volunteers.
• Accommodation for new, additional priests in an appropriate location closer to the temple.
• Complete all renovations and repairs asap.
• Paint the temple before October 2010.
• Obtain car park facilities around the temple.
• Inform Council/Police and local community of the ten day festival and seek their approval and support.
• Have First Aid facilities manned by properly qualified personnel to meet any emergencies.
• Keep the canteen open through out the ten days.
• Have adequate utensils, provisions etc for the Annadhanam cooking.
• Provide stoves and gas cylinders for the cooking.
• Provide Marquees around the Outdoor Stage, Sound Systems etc. for Cultural Functions
• Provide Marquee areas for Annadhanam and other activities, including Rest & Relaxation.
• Provide publicity across all channels, in the form of fliers, Websites, Emails, radio presentations and through Community newspapers etc.
• Take steps to determine the requirement in regard to quantity and items of pooja material necessary for the ten days so that the necessary orders are placed with the suppliers both in India and locally.
• Acquire Vahanas for the ten day festival. We have three at present and currently seeking sponsors for the rest. List of vahanas still to be purchased and their respective cost have been prepared and publicized.
• Ensure that the Chariot for the temple is made to our requirement and quality in India. In Nov,09 one of the committee members is going to India to assess the progress and the standard of workmanship. At the same time he will also check on the ornamental wooden doors for the temple that are currently being made in India.
• In addition, SVT Committee will organize a Traffic Control & Management Group of some experienced core individuals who will oversee traffic arrangements for the week ends and public holiday in particular.
• A Procurement Group will be set up to oversee the purchase of flowers, fruits, pooja materials, pooja trays, utensils etc
• A Canteen Group will be organized to ensure the running of the canteen all ten days on a continuous basis. Volunteers for the canteen will be sought from the community groups.

For more info, email: president@svtsydney.org  or secretary@svtsydney.org or treasurer@svtsydney.org  

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.