Sea of devotees witness Lord Balaji 'garuda seva' procession

About two lakh devotees on Monday witnessed the 'Garuda seva' procession of Lord Venkateswara at the famous hill shrine in nearby Tirumala, held as part of the ongoing "adhika masa brahmotsavam".

The centuries-old processional idol of the Lord mounted on the 'Garuda vahana' (carrier) was taken around the ancient shrine complex on the fifth day of the nine-day festivities, a temple official told PTI.

The idol was adorned with several glittering ornaments, including two-metre-long multi-folded golden 'Sahasra Nama Kasula Haram'.

An estimated two lakh devotees from various parts of the country witnessed the procession, considered one of the most sacred events of the festival, and offered prayers, the official said.

The devotees started congregating on the hills since the afternoon, half of them climbed the 10-km-long stairway leading to the shrine from the foot of the hills here, he said.

A thick security blanket involving over 5,000 police personnel was put in place on the hills and all the routes leading to the shrine on the occasion, he added.