Teppotsavam on temple tank marks end of Dasara festivities at Srisailam

On Tuesday (October 20, 2026), the final day of the Dasara festivities at the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Srisailam, various rituals, including ‘Chandi Homam’, ‘Rudra Homam’ and ‘Jayadi Homams’, were performed. The day ended with a ‘Teppotsavam’ (float festival) for the presiding deities on the temple tank.

The ‘Purnahuti’ (concluding offering) for the ‘Chandi Yagam’ was performed at the ‘Yagashala’ (sacrificial pavilion) of the Goddess, and the ‘Purnahuti’ for the ‘Rudra Yagam’ was conducted at the ‘Yagashala’ of the Lord. This was followed by the ‘Kalashodvasana’ rituals (ceremonial conclusion of the worship of ‘Kalasham’).

During ‘Purnahuti’, offerings including coconuts, various aromatic substances and new garments were ceremoniously consigned to the sacred sacrificial fire in accordance with scriptural injunctions.

As part of the proceedings, the sanctified water from the primary ‘Kalashas’ used in the ‘Chandi Yagam’ and ‘Rudra Yagam’ was offered to the presiding deities, Lord Mallikarjuna and Goddess Bhramaramba.

The Acharyas, Brahma and ‘Ritviks’ (priests) who participated in these rituals were honoured with sacred garments and laddu prasadam. The event was attended by chairman of the Board of Trustees Pothugunta Ramesh Naidu, Executive Officer M. Srinivasa Rao and members of the Board of Trustees.

On the final day, the processional deity of the Goddess was adorned in the form of Sri Bhramaramba Devi. The Goddess, depicted with eight arms, appeared holding various weapons, including a trident (‘shula’), dagger, mace, sword, bow, shield and a heavy iron club (‘parigha’).

The processional deities were taken out in a procession on the ‘Nandi Vahanam’ in the evening.

On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, ‘Shami Puja’, the worship of the ‘Shami’ tree, was performed within the temple premises in accordance with scriptural injunctions. The processional deities were brought on the ‘Nandi Vahanam’ to the ‘Shami’ tree, where special prayers were conducted.

In the night, the ‘Teppotsavam’ (float festival) for the presiding deities was held at the temple ‘Pushkarini’ (temple tank). The float was decorated with a variety of flowers and electric lights.

A diverse array of flowers was used for the decoration, including red and yellow marigolds, white and yellow chrysanthemums, ‘Kanakambaram’ (firecracker flowers), Dutch roses, ‘Kagadalu’ (bougainvillea), orchids, ‘Nandivardhanam’ and ‘Garudavardhanam’.