Tirumala Navaratri Brahmotsavam to begin today

Tirupati: The nine-day annual Brahmotsavam festival at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara near here will begin with the hoisting of sacred Garuda flag atop the golden 'dwajasthambham' (flag mast) on Friday.

Temple officials said tight security arrangements have made on the seven hills and in Tirupati for the smooth conduct of the Navaratri festival.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would arrive on the hills in the afternoon on a five-hour visit.

Later in the evening, observing the three and half decade old practice, Naidu, on behalf of the state government, would offer a set of new silk clothes to the shrine on the occasion of the advent of the festival, officials said.

The high priests of the hill temple would receive the clothes from Naidu. The clothes would be adorned on the presiding deity on the 'Garudaseva' day on the fifth day of the Brahmotsavam on September 30, they added.