TIRUPATI: Religious fervour and traditional zeal marked the celebration of Janmashtami fete in the temple city of Tirupati on Wednesday. The presence of the ISKCON's well-developed temple complex here exclusively dedicated to Lord Krishna, had become the centre of attraction and provided the right devotional mood along with a unique ambience for the festival.

Devotees, mostly locals sporting the traditional `Hare Krishna' tilak on their forehead, thronged the ISKCON's Krishna temple and offered prayers to the deities . The entire temple complex had been illuminated with lamps and paintings displayed themes from Srimad Bhagavatham.

The highlight of the evening's programmes was the `Utlothsavam' in which several youths participated amid a lot of zest to snatch the `prize' that had been pullied up and down from a high mast pole. According to religious texts, the game is believed to be a popular pastime from the days of Lord Krishna .

It wasfollowed by bhajans, religious discourses, presentation of a dance ballet `Kuchelopakhyanam' rendered by a Bangalore-based cultural troupe `Prabhath Kavavidaru'. The fete came to a grand finale with `Maha Sankhabhishekam' when the marble icons of `Radha-Krishna' were given a celestial bath. Meanwhile the TTD celebrated the day with a `Go Pooja' in its dairy farm, as is the tradition.

` Go Pooja'

The entire farm and the stables housing the cows, bulls, horses and elephants forming part of the Lord's paraphernalia were cleaned and nicely decked-up for the occasion. TTD executive officer A. P. V. Narayana Sarma launched scribbling of seven crores `Venkateswara Nama' .

The Chinmaya Mission has observed the day by performing Kalyanothsavam. and free feeding at its Venugopalaswamy temple here.

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