FESTIVE AMBIENCE: Couples performing the traditional `talambralu' after their wedlock under the TTD's `Kalyanamasthu' programme in Tirupati on Thursday. — Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar

TIRUPATI: In all, 504 couples entered into wedlock in Chittoor district, including 42 in Tirupati alone, as part of `Kalyanamasthu', the ambitious State-wide mass wedding programme performed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) management on Thursday. In all, 5,063 couples joined hands as part of the programme conducted in all the districts of the State.

The event was organised at the sprawling grounds behind the TTD's administrative building in a traditional atmosphere amid chanting from the Vedic scriptures.

All the 42 grooms tied the yellow thread around the neck of their respective brides, when `Mangalya dharana' was performed in the auspicious hours of `Abhijit lagnam' at 11.54 a.m.

The yellow thread, `mettelu' and `kankanaalu' were kept at the feet of the deity of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala and Goddess Padmavathi at Tiruchanur temple before being dispatched to the venues across the state for the mega event.

Gifts for couples

The TTD's Joint Executive Officer G. Balaramaiah, who supervised the programme, personally handed over a set of gift items including steel utensils, silver `kumkuma bharine', etc. to the couples. The marriages were registered immediately with the Registrar's office setting up a special counter at the venue.

The TTD board member O.V. Ramana, Financial Advisor Anita Shah Akella, DPP secretary P. Chenchusubbiah,, Superintending Engineer Ramachandra Reddy, Deputy Executive Officer Chengal Rayalu, Additional SP B.Seshu were among those who graced the occasion.

Similarly, the event was conducted in all the constituencies in the district at the kalyana mandapams or temples maintained by the TTD.

The number of couples who tied the nuptials are Chittoor (20), Palamaner (29), Kuppam (44), Punganur (68), Madanapalle (51), Thambalapalle (30), Vayalpadu (23), Piler (33), Chandragiri (22), Srikalahasti (34), Satyavedu (23), Puttur (37), Nagari (30), Vepanjeri (10). Eight couples joined hands at the programme conducted at Kalyana Venkateswara temple in Narayanavanam, where, according to mythology, the Lord of Seven hills married princess Padmavathi.

Not disheartened over the lacklustre response, the TTD top brass is meeting at Tirumala on Friday to finalise the date for the second phase of the 50,000 marriages planned earlier.

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