Vadapalli Brahmotsavams 2026: Konaseema Tirumala festival ends November 6

The 14th annual Brahmotsavams of the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Vadapalli in Andhra Pradesh's Konaseema region, the shrine devotees call "Konaseema Tirumala", reach their last day on Friday, 6 November 2026. The nine-day festival began on Thursday, 29 October. On Thursday, 5 November, the eighth day, the published festival schedule listed the Tiruppavada Seva and the Kalpavriksha Vahana Seva, and local reports described large crowds at the shrine. The festival closes on 6 November with the Maha Purnahuti and the Avabhritha Snanam, also called Chakrasnanam, a ritual holy bath, on the banks of the Gautami Godavari, followed by the lowering of the festival flag.

A Brahmotsavam is a temple's big annual festival. Over several days the festival images of the deity are taken out on different vahanas, the ceremonial carriers whose names tell their shape: Sesha (the divine serpent), Hamsa (the swan), Chandraprabha (the moon), Gaja (the elephant) and Kalpavriksha (the wish-fulfilling tree). On some evenings the deity is also dressed in a special form, or alankaram, as at Vadapalli this year, where the Saraswati and Mohini alankarams were among those reported. The best-known Brahmotsavam is the one at Tirumala, but other Venkateswara temples hold their own, and for families in the Godavari delta the Vadapalli festival is the one close to home.

Vadapalli's festival shows how such a local shrine has grown. Its popular name, "Konaseema Tirumala", links the shrine to the famous hill temple of the same deity. The temple authorities said they had made arrangements for devotees to move easily and take part in the daily rituals over the nine days. Reports from the festival week describe the shrine as crowded, especially for the evening processions.

The festival also follows a clear order that is easy to miss in day-by-day photos. It opens with the first procession, moves through the vahana sevas on successive nights, and ends with the closing rituals. At Vadapalli the Avabhritha Snanam, or Chakrasnanam, is held on the banks of the Gautami Godavari, after which the festival flag is lowered in the Dhwajavarohanam and the festival ends with the Maha Ashirvachanam, a final blessing, and the Ekanta Seva. The river setting gives the closing day its own character, and reports from the region's local press have followed each night's procession.

Peepals timeline: Thursday 29 October, the Brahmotsavams begin with the Sesha Vahana Seva; 31 October, Maha Pushpayagam and Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva; Tuesday 3 November, Chandraprabha Vahana Seva in the Mohini alankaram on the sixth day; Wednesday 4 November, Gaja Vahana Seva on the seventh day; Thursday 5 November, Tiruppavada Seva and Kalpavriksha Vahana Seva; Friday 6 November, Chakrasnanam at the Gautami Godavari and the close of the festival. Our timeline from the dates given in reports and the published schedule.

Short-term: The closing rituals on 6 November, especially the Chakrasnanam at the river, are the last chance this year for devotees to join the festival.

Long-term: With its 14th annual edition, the Vadapalli festival is now a fixed part of the Godavari delta's religious calendar, and a draw for visitors to the Konaseema region.

Who is affected: Devotees in Konaseema, East Godavari and neighbouring districts, local traders and transport services around Vadapalli, and families who visit the temple for vows and darshan.

What to watch next: The Maha Purnahuti, Chakrasnanam and Dhwajavarohanam on Friday, 6 November, which close this year's Brahmotsavams.

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