Yes, we are ready for the Yatra 4

My suit cases are packed. Rao, I am sure, will start soon and finish before 10 a.m. tomorrow. The American Airlines would neither let me print the boarding passes nor let me check-in online. So, we have to be at the Cleveland airport at least 2 hours before departure. From New York, we are flying by Jet Airways and I am looking forward to that. I was told that their service is wonderful. But, I could not get the seats allocation over the phone since they filled 30% of the seats already and they told me that is all they are allowed to do ahead of time. My Travel agent never told me that I could even call them for seats. Now I know and I have to see whether I can get it done in Cleveland itself.  I stopped traveling by Air India because of their poor customer service in the past decades. Now, this is first time I am traveling by American Airlines domestic!!!!!

We land in Chennai airport around midnight. A Taxi will be sent for us from Tirupati and the journey would be about 3 hours. We should reach Nirmala's place by 5 a.m. local time. I will go to Nellore my native place on the 17th to visit my sister(s) and it will be a day trip by bus, a 3 hour journey each way. On the 18th, we will go to Tirumalai for the Shasra Deepa (thousand lights offering) Alankarana of Sri Balaji, also referred to as Malaiappa. Nirmala purchased the sponsor ticket for the event long time ago. We will rest on the 19th and leave for Delhi the next day!!!

I will write my next post as soon as I get a chance to meet an Internet Cafe.

Follow me (us)!!!!!


Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva

Every day evening at 5:30 p.m. Sahasra deepalankarana seva is performed in the Unjal mantapam located on the south eastern corner of the Srivari Temple.

Sri malayappa swami along with Sridevi and Bhudevi are taken out in procession to the mantapa, where one thousand wick lamps are lit. In the midst of vedic chanting and singing of Annamaya Sankirtanas, the Lord seated aon an unjal is rocked gently. The grihasthas who purchased tickets for performance of this seva are given Vastra bahumanam.