Following special pujas at Tirumala on Wednesday morning, TTD chairman B R Naidu and the additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary launched off the Kalyanaratham.

In Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, the ratham for the Maha Kumbh Mela, which will take place from January 13 to February 26, began.

Speaking to reporters on the occasion, the chairman said that TTD has established a model temple of Srivaru on 2.8 acres of land at Maha Kumbhmela that had been given by the Uttar Pradesh government.

TTD will carry out all of the Kainkaryams at the model temple, similar to Tirumala, with 170 staff members assigned.

He said that devotees, particularly those from the North, would get supernatural blessings from the Sri Venkateswara temple.

The TTD chairman said that Srivari Kalyanotsavams would be organized by TTD on January 18, 26, February 3, and 12.

He desired that everyone making the journey to Kumbh Mela would work together to uphold TTD’s reputation.

The team of religious workers carrying the replica utsava murthis (processional idols) of Srivaru, Sridevi, and Bhudevi in the Kalyana Ratham was headed by Venugopala Deekshitulu, one of the principal priests of the Tirumala temple.

Sriram Raghunath, the HDPP secretary; temple DyEO Lokanatham; JEO (health and education) Goutami; and others were also in attendance.