Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh – In Tirumala’s tradition, the grand Dasara (Vijayadashami) celebrations at the sacred Tirumala temple will be observed one day later. The customary Shami Pooja, which marks the culmination of the Dasara festivities, will not be held on Vijayadashami day but instead on the following day, due to overlapping religious events.
On Vijayadashami day, there is the Avabhrita Snanam of the Lord, and according to tradition, Shami Pooja is performed the next day. However, according to the Tirumala tradition, Shami Pooja is observed on Ekadashi, not on Dashami.
What is Shami Pooja?
According to the Puranas, the sacred Shami tree is regarded as the Kula Devata of Lord Srinivasa, and it is traditionally worshipped on Vijayadashami, tracing back to the time of the Pandavas.
Shami Pooja is a symbolic ritual that commemorates the victory of good over evil, aligning with the spirit of Dasara. It involves the ceremonial worship of weapons, invoking divine blessings for strength and protection. At Tirumala, this ritual holds special significance as it is performed in the presence of Sri Malayappa Swamy, the processional deity of Lord Venkateswara.
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