‘Govindamala’ devotees to trek Tirumala Hills through route taken by saint poet Annamayya

Kadapa Zilla Parishad chairman Akepati Amarnath Reddy leading a group of ‘Govindamala’ devotees who are trekking to the Torumala temple through the forest taken by saint poet Tallapaka Annamayya, at Kukkaladoddi near Tirupati on Sunday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A contingent of devotees, who have taken the ‘Govindamala’ vow, is all set to trek the Tirumala Hills through the forest taken by saint poet Tallapaka Annamacharya in the 15^th Century.

For the 21^st year in a row, the devotees led by Kadapa Zilla Parishad chairman Akepati Amarnath Reddy started the journey on December 15 at his native village Akepadu in Rajampeta constituency, located close to Tallapaka.

Clad in yellow robes, the devotees under the banner of ‘21^st Tirumala Maha Padayatra’ started walking along the Kadapa-Tirupati highway and made night halts at Rajampeta and Kodur on Friday and Saturday, while stopping at Kukkaladoddi on Sunday. On Monday morning, they will take a detour into the Seshachalam forest near Mamandur to reach the Tirumala Hills by the evening.

“The group has grown in size as several villagers joined en route. As per schedule, we will offer prayers at Tirumala temple on Monday evening,” said Mr. Amarnath Reddy.

He stressed the need for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to recognise this route and make facilities for the trekking devotees.