Procession of silk umbrellas leaves for Tirupati from Chennai

A ceremonial procession of eleven white silk‑decorated umbrellas set out from the Chenna Kesava Perumal Temple in Chennai’s Flower Bazaar on Sunday. The departure was marked by Sri Raghuvarendra Swami of Sri Bheemanna Ghatte Math and R. R. Gopaljee of the Hindu Dharmartha Samithi, who formally flagged off the convoy.

The umbrellas, each crafted from silk and intended for the annual Brahmotsavam at the Tirupati Venkatachalapathi Temple, will travel to Tirumala, with a planned arrival on September 18 to participate in the Garuda Sevai. Along the route, devotees will perform special pujas at designated points before the items reach the shrine.

These umbrellas form a traditional element of the Brahmotsavam, a major religious festival that draws thousands of pilgrims to Tirumala each year. Their movement from Chennai to Tirupati underscores the collaborative efforts of temple authorities and community groups to uphold ritual customs that are central to the spiritual life of the region’s Hindu population.