MAURITIUS, Julyl 1, 2006: For the fourth consecutive year, the Shri Venkateswara Bhajana Maala (SVBM), will be celebrated in Eau-Coulee, on the island of Mauritius, Indian Ocean. This unique puja is dedicated to the glory of Lord Shri Venkateshwara Swami, also known as Balaji swami or Govinda. It has been scheduled for July 30, 2006. The SVBM is unique in the sense that it is celebrated according to the Vaikhanasa Aagama Shastra and at the same time incorporates modernism. The puja is held at the Shri Venkateshwara Aalayam in Eau-Coulee, a traditional Dravidian temple (Telugu). The puja starts at sharp 0600 hours, when the aasthana archaka (officiating priest) opens the garbha aalayam (main shrine) and starts chanting the Suprabatam, to wake up the Deity.
For the hour which follows, mantras are chanted and rituals carried out to offer the Lord food and praise Him and chanting His asthora shatanamavalli (108 names of the Deity). At 0700, kirtanam and bhaajanam groups will take over, and every hour a different group will take their turn to sing the glory of the Lord of the seven hills. This kirtanam and bhajanam session will last up to 1700. From this moment the acharyas will start making preparation for the concluding puja , namely the shri venkateshwara agnihotram. A maha yagna marked by the use of a 3 metres long piece of teak wood with a carved elephant head for the purnahoothi (ghee offering ladle). At this particular moment over three litres of pure ghee will poured into the Khundha (fire pit). This is a spectacular moment where devotees can see the Lord through the glazing flames of the fire–a once in a lifetime vision. The aalayam is visited by hundreds of devotees throughout the day. Devotees which come from all around the island. Bhojanam and prashadam (food) will also be offered throughout the day. This puja was first celebrated in 2001 and was organized by the Eau-Coulee Andhra Youth Wing with the immense support of Achraya Shri Sanjeeva Narasimha Appadoo. We hope that this year also the puja will be a resounding spiritual success. More details on the association and puja can be obtained here.