Over 1500 devotees of the Shirdi Saibaba Temple of NZ Inc performed Srinivasa (Lord Tirupathi) Kalyanam (wedding) on November 28, with great fervour at the Mount Eden War Memorial Hall in Balmoral.
Fifty families performed the Kalyanam ceremony. The day began with Suprabhata Seva (waking up Lord Srinivasa from bed) by chanting of Suprabhatam. Then Lord Balaji was decorated with a variety of flowers and Tulasi garlands which is called Tomala seva.
Pandit Chandru of Papakura Ganesh Temple started the Kalyanam (wedding) in the beautifully decorated mandap. Devotees took darshan of Lord Balaji, Mata Padmavathi and Mata Alivelumanga, followed by Mahaprasad.
The evening started with Shirdi Saibaba’s Dhoop Arathi, followed by Unjal seva (swing seva), Sahasra Deepalankara seva (having darshan of Lord Balaji in the midst of 1000 lamps and then Ekanta seva (putting Lord Balaji to bed).
The highlight of the evening programme was Sahasara Deepalankara seva.
The murthis of Lord Balaji, Mata Padmavathi and Mata Alivelumanga have come from one of India’s greatest spiritual centres, Tirupathi, and they will be in Auckland with Shirdi Saibaba Temple.
Every devotee was given the famous Laddu from Tirumala. Shirdi Saibaba Temple devotees have considered themselves fortunate to have obtained the laddus from Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam.
“On behalf of Shirdi Saibaba Temple Committee, I sincerely thank all the devotees who made this event a grand success. With the kind support of the devotees and sponsors we could raise around $15000 from this event. We will continue to do these kind of successful events in the future,” Ravi Chittajallu, secretary of the Temple committee told Indian Weekender.
The Temple conducts regular bhajans and aarathi every Thursday from 7.30pm, at Sylvia Park School, Longford Street, Mt Wellington. More details about temple events are available at www.saibabatemple.org.nz