Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Tirumala Garuda Seva Draws Thousands of Devotees
Garuda Seva is a large religious procession held during the Brahmotsavams festival at Tirumala.
Lord Malayappa Swamy was carried on a golden Garuda.
The procession began at 6:30 p.m.
on Saturday.
Thousands of devotees gathered in the streets and galleries to watch it.
All 190 galleries were full by the afternoon.
Some people arrived a day early, while others stayed after a morning ceremony.
Temple workers and volunteers gave people food and water and helped manage the crowds.
Police also controlled traffic and prepared medical help for emergencies.
People who could not enter the galleries watched the procession on large screens.
Lord Malayappa Swamy was carried on a golden Garuda through Tirumala’s four Mada streets on Saturday evening.
Garuda Vahana Seva began at 6:30 p.m. amid chants of “Govinda, Govinda” during the annual Brahmotsavams.
All 190 galleries, with a combined capacity of 1.8 lakh devotees, were filled by afternoon.
TTD provided food, drinking water, buttermilk, LED screens and crowd-management support for pilgrims.
Police, TTD personnel and volunteers restricted road traffic and monitored crowded areas, with ambulances and medical teams deployed.
- Who
- Lord Malayappa Swamy, thousands of devotees, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams personnel, police and Srivari Seva volunteers.
- What
- The Garuda Vahana Seva procession, described as the main or most awaited event of the annual Brahmotsavams.
- When
- Saturday evening; the procession began at 6:30 p.m.
- Where
- Through the four Mada streets at Tirumala, near Tirupati.
- Why
- Devotees gathered to watch and offer prayers during the major Brahmotsavams procession.
- Event
- Garuda Vahana Seva
- Festival
- Annual Brahmotsavams
- Start time
- 6:30 p.m. on Saturday
- Route
- Tirumala’s four Mada streets
- Gallery capacity
- 1.8 lakh devotees across 190 galleries
- Volunteer deployment
- Around 2,000 Srivari Seva volunteers
- Employee deployment
- Around 600 TTD employees
- Safety measures
- Traffic restrictions, crowd monitoring, ambulances, paramedical teams and LED viewing screens
