Arjitha Vasanthotsavam is an yearly Seva celebrated in Tirumala to commemorate the arrival of spring season.
Vasanthotsavam is actually the combination of 2 words – “Vasantha” (Spring season in Sanskrit language) and “Utsavam” (festival in Sanskrit language).So it simply means a Puja performed in order to welcome spring. The festival is celebrated on the three days of tryodasi, chaturdasa and pournimi in the month of Chaitra In the Gregorian calendar, the festival takes place between the end of March through mid-April.

This seva is been held in the Vaibhavotsava Mantapa as an arjitha. The seva is presented to Sri Malayappa swami and His companions daily. Perfumeries are sumptuously being used to generate an wraithlike ambience. The Veda pundits chant Purusha sukta, Sri Sukta and other Vedic hymns. Abhisheka is then performed to the Lord and His consorts with holy water. Later Abhisheka is performed again with milk, curd, honey and turmeric. And finally, God is been pleased with the application of sandal paste to Sri Malayappa Swami and his consorts. The duration of the seva is in relation to one hour.

The commencement of the festival celebrations in Tirumala is noticed during the period of Achyutaraya (Saka 1460). The festival was taking place with the fund of 3000 narpanam put in by Periya Solai, the son of the financial manager in the temple.

The festival takes place with Ankurarpana (implanting the nine kind of seeds) ceremony held on the day of Uttarabhadra star in Hindu calendar month of Phanguni. One day prior to the start off of the Vasanthotsavam festival, punyaha vachanam (purificatory rites), vaasthu santhi (worship of deity and lord of natural world and their fundamentals and natural forces as well as lord and deity of orders and surroundings) and samprokshanam rituals are carried out by the temple priests. Access to these highly sacred rituals are not open to public.

Abhisheka – specifically called Snapana Thirumanjanam (Holy bathing of the lord), is executed to the utsava murthy and his consorts on all the three days in the Vasanthotsavam hall outside the temple grounds. On the third day, Abhisheka is presented to the idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman along with Krishna and Rukmini. Processions of the consecrated idols are taken in a convoy in the evening on all the three day of festival.

The Vasanthotsavam hall was flattened as part of the refurbishing of the temple surroundings in 2006 and since then the Vaibhavotsava Mantapa located in front of the key temple is used for the festival.

Vasanthotsavam is a kind of arjitha seva – paid service where pilgrims pay just to view the ceremony. Each ticket costs Rs 3,000 ($75) and allows 10 people at a time. Apart from entry to the Abhisheka hall, the ticket holder receives one silk duppata for men, a blouse piece for the women, 20 dosas, 6 vadas and temple annaprasadams (rice based sacred food).

Arjitha Vasanthotsavam is performed daily as an shortened version of the Vasanthotsavam. The seva is conducted in the Vaibhavotsava Mantapa . The seva is presented to Sri Malayappa swami and His consorts – Sridevi and Bhudevi. The seva startes with perfumeries and scents applied to all the deities. The Veda pundits narrates Purusha sukta and Sri suktam. Abhishekam is presented to the Lord and His consorts with sacred water, milk, curd, honey and turmeric. Finally, sandal paste is applied to Sri Malayappa Swami and consorts.
The ticket holders are given ”vastra bahumanam”, 5 big laddu’s, 5 small laddu’s and 5 vadas as prasadam for this arjitha seva. The duration of the seva is close to one hour. At the conclusion of the seva, the ticket holders are also sent for the Darshan of the leading deity in the sanctum sanctorum.

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