Srivari Navaratri Brahmotsavam 2026 at Tirumala: Day-by-Day Vahana Schedule (12-20 October)

Quick answer: TTD has announced the Srivari Navaratri Brahmotsavam 2026 at Tirumala from Monday 12 to Tuesday 20 October 2026, with Ankurarpanam on Sunday 11 October. The highlight, Garuda Seva, is on Friday 16 October from 6:30 to 11:30 pm. The other vahana sevas run from 8 to 10 am and 7 to 9 pm, and the festival ends with Chakra Snanam at 6 am on Vijayadasami, 20 October. This is the second Brahmotsavam of 2026, held because the year has an Adhika masam. The full day-by-day table is below. All times are India Standard Time.

Last checked: 9 October 2026 against TTD's announcement of 27 September 2026 and TTD news up to 9 October.

Why Tirumala has two Brahmotsavams in 2026

Every year Lord Venkateswara's main festival, the Salakatla (annual) Brahmotsavam, is held at Tirumala. In a year with an Adhika (extra) lunar month, which comes about once in three years, TTD also holds a second festival in the Dasara month, called the Navaratri Brahmotsavam. TTD news (31 August 2026) announced these twin Brahmotsavams: the Salakatla Brahmotsavam from 15 to 23 September, which is now complete, and the Navaratri Brahmotsavam from 12 to 20 October. Source: TTD News

TTD's 27 September 2026 announcement explains how the Navaratri edition differs. There is no Dhwajarohanam or Dhwajavarohanam, so the Garuda flag is not hoisted. The big wooden Pedda Ratham (car festival) is not drawn, and the Swarna Ratham (golden chariot) is used instead. The vahana sevas, in which the processional deity Sri Malayappa Swamy goes around the four Mada streets with Sridevi and Bhudevi, follow the familiar Brahmotsavam order. Source: TTD News

Day-by-day vahana schedule, 11-20 October 2026

This is TTD's official schedule as published on 27 September 2026. Morning vahana sevas run 8-10 am and evening sevas 7-9 pm, except for Garuda Vahanam and the special items shown. TTD can make small changes, so check its latest announcement on the day.

Source: TTD News. TTD's monthly list of October festivals, published on 29 September 2026, confirms Ankurarpanam on 11 October, the start on 12 October, Garuda Seva on 16 October and Chakra Snanam with Sri Vedanta Desika Sattumora on 20 October. Source: TTD News

What the main vahanams mean

Each vahanam (carrier) shows the Lord in a different aspect. The meanings below are as they are traditionally explained to devotees.

• Pedda Sesha Vahanam: the seven-hooded Adisesha, the Lord's serpent couch. Tirumala itself is called Seshachalam, the hill of Sesha, so the festival opens with him.
• Chinna Sesha Vahanam: the smaller, five-hooded serpent, traditionally linked with Vasuki. Like Pedda Sesha, it stands for the devotee who serves the Lord constantly.
• Hamsa Vahanam: the swan, a symbol of discernment, which is said to separate milk from water. The Lord is often described as appearing in the form of Saraswati, the giver of knowledge.
• Simha Vahanam: the lion, recalling strength and the Narasimha avatara.
• Muthyapu Pandiri Vahanam: a canopy of pearls, associated with coolness, purity and calm.
• Kalpavruksha Vahanam: the wish-fulfilling tree of heaven. Devotees see the Lord as the one who grants what is truly good for them.
• Sarvabhupala Vahanam: the Lord as sovereign of all kings and guardians of the directions.
• Mohini Avataram: the enchantress form the Lord took at the churning of the ocean to distribute the nectar to the devas.
• Garuda Vahanam: Garuda, the eagle, the Lord's foremost servant, whom tradition describes as the Vedas in visible form. It is the most widely attended night of the festival.
• Hanumanta Vahanam: Hanuman carrying the Lord as Sri Rama, a picture of perfect devotion.
• Pushpaka Vimanam: the flower-decked aerial chariot in which, as traditionally told, Sri Rama returned to Ayodhya.
• Gaja Vahanam: the elephant, recalling Gajendra Moksham, the Lord rushing to save the elephant king who called out to him.
• Surya Prabha and Chandra Prabha: the Lord as Surya Narayana in the morning, and on the moon's radiant frame at night.
• Swarna Ratham: in this edition, the golden chariot takes the place of the wooden Pedda Ratham.
• Ashwa Vahanam: the horse, often linked with the Kalki avatara that is yet to come.
• Chakra Snanam: the Sudarshana Chakra (Chakrattalwar) is given a holy bath in the Swami Pushkarini. Devotees bathe in the tank at the same time, and the dip is considered especially meritorious.

Pilgrim information TTD has announced

TTD news (6 October 2026) announced these changes for the festival:

• Rs 300 Special Entry Darshan: tickets for 12, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20 October were to be released at 10 am on 7 October, only on ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in. TTD did not list 15, 16 or 17 October in that release. Source: TTD News
• VIP break and privileged darshans cancelled: VIP break darshan and privileged darshans for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, parents with infants, NRIs and defence personnel are cancelled from 11 to 20 October. Recommendation letters for VIP break are not accepted from 10 to 19 October, except for protocol VIPs.
• Larger crowds expected: The Hans India (6 October 2026) reported that officials at a TTD review projected about 20% higher turnout than the September festival, because the Navaratri Brahmotsavam coincides with the Dussehra holidays. The same report says an average of over 73,500 devotees a day had darshan during the September Salakatla festival. Source: The Hans India
• Current crowds: TTD's daily bulletin for 8 October 2026 reported 66,404 pilgrims had darshan. On the morning of 9 October the approximate Sarvadarshanam wait without SSD tokens was 8-12 hours. Source: TTD News

If Rs 300 tickets show as unavailable, TTD news (26 September 2026) explained that demand at peak times far exceeds the quota, and that 'Slot Unavailable' usually means the quota is full rather than a technical fault. Source: TTD News Book only through TTD's official online booking portal or the official TTD app, never through agents.

Planning tips for the festival days

• Expect the heaviest crowds on Garuda Seva day (16 October) and over the weekend of 17 and 18 October, which falls in the Dasara holidays.
• The Mada street galleries fill hours before major vahana sevas. Carry water, keep medicines with you and agree a meeting point with your family.
• Elders and families with infants should note that privileged darshans are suspended from 11 to 20 October. Watching a vahana seva from a gallery or on a screen is also darshan in the traditional sense.
• Dress traditionally, and follow TTD's announcements on the day for any change in timings or routes.
• For general planning, read our Tirumala pilgrim guide, and see the Garuda Seva guide for festival-night safety tips.

Watching from abroad: SVBC live telecast

For NRI families in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, the Gulf and elsewhere, the simplest way to take part is the live telecast on SVBC (Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel), TTD's devotional channel, which traditionally broadcasts the Brahmotsavam vahana sevas. The times in the table are India Standard Time. Work out your local time from IST yourself, and remember that an evening vahana in India falls in the morning or overnight in North America. Many families light a lamp, offer tulasi and recite the Venkateswara Suprabhatam or Govinda namas while watching, especially for Garuda Seva.

The festival also overlaps with Sharad Navratri (11-19 October) and Dussehra (20 October), so many diaspora temples dedicated to Lord Venkateswara hold their own Navaratri programmes. Check your local temple's calendar.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Navaratri Brahmotsavam at Tirumala in 2026?

TTD has announced the Srivari Navaratri Brahmotsavam from Monday 12 to Tuesday 20 October 2026, with Ankurarpanam on the evening of Sunday 11 October. Garuda Seva is on Friday 16 October and Chakra Snanam on the morning of Vijayadasami, 20 October.

Why are there two Brahmotsavams at Tirumala in 2026?

2026 has an Adhika (extra) masam. In such years TTD holds the annual Salakatla Brahmotsavam and a second, Navaratri Brahmotsavam in the Dasara month. In 2026 the Salakatla festival ran from 15 to 23 September and the Navaratri festival runs from 12 to 20 October.

How is the Navaratri Brahmotsavam different from the Salakatla Brahmotsavam?

According to TTD, the Navaratri edition has no Dhwajarohanam (flag hoisting) or Dhwajavarohanam (flag lowering), and the large wooden Pedda Ratham is not drawn. The Swarna Ratham (golden chariot) is used instead, on 19 October.

What time is the Garuda Seva on 16 October 2026?

TTD's schedule gives the Garuda Vahanam from 6:30 pm to 11:30 pm on 16 October 2026. The other vahana sevas run from 8 to 10 am and 7 to 9 pm.

Are VIP break and senior citizen darshans available during the festival?

No. TTD said on 6 October 2026 that VIP break darshan and privileged darshans for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, parents with infants, NRIs and defence personnel are cancelled from 11 to 20 October.

Can I watch the Tirumala vahana sevas live from abroad?

Yes. SVBC (Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel), TTD's devotional channel, traditionally telecasts the Brahmotsavam vahana sevas live. Remember that the times on this page are India times.

Related guides

• Tirumala Garuda Seva on 16 October 2026
• Tirumala and Tirupati calendar, October 2026
• Salakatla Brahmotsavam 2026 highlights
• Tirumala darshan tickets and quota releases explained
• Today's Tirumala pilgrim guide
• Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

Dates and times on this page come from TTD's announcement of 27 September 2026 and its October festival list of 29 September 2026. Pilgrim updates come from TTD news and The Hans India up to 9 October 2026, and each is linked above. Last checked: 9 October 2026. TTD may revise timings at short notice, so confirm with TTD's official announcements before you travel.