TIRUPATI, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA, December 3, 2008: Thousands of devotees took part in Panchami Theertham at Thiruchanoor Tuesday to mark the end of the nine-day Kartika Brahmotsavams of Padmavati temple.
As part of the three-hour colourful ritual, priests performed Thirumanjanam (celestial bath) to the idols of Goddess Padmavati and Chakrathalwar, which were brought from the temple and placed in a decorated mantapam on the banks of the temple tank. After the ritual, the priests dipped the idol of Chakrathalwar in the temple tank marking the conclusion of the annual temple fete.
A large number of devotees took a holy dip in the tank at the same time. Earlier, in accordance with the age old tradition, the priests brought new silk clothes, turmeric and vermilion powder from Tirumala temple and presented them to the Goddess as a gift from Lord Venkateswara.