Tirumala Salakatla Brahmotsavam 2026 Highlights: Garuda Seva, Dhwajavarohanam and the Numbers

Quick answer: The Srivari Salakatla (annual) Brahmotsavam was held at Tirumala from 15 to 23 September 2026. The Garuda Seva on the night of Saturday 19 September drew packed Mada street galleries by noon, and the festival ended with Dhwajavarohanam on 23 September. TTD reported 5.76 lakh devotees and Rs 28.94 crore in hundi offerings (as reported by Deccan Chronicle, 23 September 2026). Because 2026 is an Adhika masa year, a second festival, the Navaratri Brahmotsavam, follows from 12 to 20 October.

Last checked: 9 October 2026.

The 2026 Salakatla Brahmotsavam at a glance

Why 2026 has two Brahmotsavams

The Brahmotsavam, as traditionally told, was first celebrated by Lord Brahma himself in thanksgiving to Lord Srinivasa, which gives the festival its name. In years with an Adhika masa, Tirumala holds two: the annual Salakatla Brahmotsavam, with the hoisting and lowering of the Garuda flag (Dhwajarohanam and Dhwajavarohanam), and a Navaratri Brahmotsavam in the Dasara month without them. TTD announced the twin festivals for 2026 on 31 August (Source: TTD News, 31 August 2026).

Before the festival: rush, trial run and cancellations

• TTD cancelled Astadala Pada Padmaradhana, Tiruppavada, Arjita Kalyanotsavam, Unjal Seva and Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva for the nine days, along with the special darshans for senior citizens, physically challenged devotees, parents with infants, NRIs and donors (Source: TTD News, 4 August 2026).
• The Sravana Pournami Garuda Seva on 28 August doubled as a trial run, with senior officials inspecting gallery entry and exit points and security (Source: TTD News, 27 August 2026).
• Crowds were already heavy before the festival: TTD reported a wait of about 24 hours in the queues and cancelled VIP Break darshan on 13 September (Source: TTD News, 10 September 2026).
• On 16 September, during the festival, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister opened a Pilgrims' Experience Centre at Vaikuntam Queue Complex-I, the renovated Sri Venkateswara Museum and 32 donated electric buses (Source: The Hans India, 17 September 2026).

Garuda Seva on 19 September

Garuda Seva is the high point of every Brahmotsavam. Garuda, the eagle who is the Lord's eternal servant and vehicle, carries Sri Malayappa Swamy around the four Mada streets, and devotees believe that a darshan of the Lord on Garuda washes away sins. This year a news report (hindudayashankar.com, 19 September 2026) noted that the Lord wore the Makara Kanti and Lakshmi Kasula Haram adornments for the procession.

The Hans India reported on 20 September 2026 that:

• the Garuda Seva began at 6:30 PM, and the Mada street galleries were full by noon;
• two-wheelers were barred from the ghat road from the morning, and four-wheelers were restricted from noon once parking was full;
• TTD set up giant LED screens at the outer ring road and holding points, and supplied food, water and buttermilk to waiting devotees;
• parents were advised to use ID bands and geo-tag children.

Source: The Hans India, 20 September 2026.

Dhwajavarohanam and the close of the festival

On the last day, the Garuda flag hoisted at the start of the festival is lowered in the Dhwajavarohanam, bidding farewell to the deities invited for the Brahmotsavam. In the traditional order the last morning also has the Chakra Snanam, when the Sudarshana Chakra is bathed in the Swami Pushkarini. TTD reported that the nine-day festival concluded with Dhwajavarohanam on Wednesday night, 23 September 2026, after the Bangaru Tiruchi Utsavam at 7 pm, and that 67,632 devotees had darshan that day (Source: TTD News, 23 September 2026).

The numbers TTD reported

At its post-festival press conference, TTD gave these figures, as reported by Deccan Chronicle on 23 September 2026:

Source: Deccan Chronicle, 23 September 2026. At a 5 October review for the Navaratri festival, TTD cited an average of over 73,500 darshans a day during the Salakatla Brahmotsavam (Source: The Hans India, 6 October 2026). The two reports describe the festival in slightly different ways, so we give each as its source reported it.

After the Brahmotsavam: Bhag Savari and Pournami Garuda Seva

TTD lined up a series of festivals after the Brahmotsavam (Source: TTD News, 23 September 2026):

• Bhag Savari, 24 September: a rare anticlockwise procession of the deities to the gardens of Ananthalwar, recalling, as traditionally told, the devotion of the saint Ananthalwar, who tended the Lord's flower garden.
• Chakra Snanam, 25 September: in the Swami Pushkarini in the morning, after the Ananta Padmanabha Vratam.
• Pournami Garuda Seva, 26 September: from 7 to 9 PM on the Mada streets.

Next: the Navaratri Brahmotsavam, 12 to 20 October

The second festival of the year begins with Ankurarpanam on 11 October. It has no Dhwajarohanam, Dhwajavarohanam or wooden Pedda Ratham; the Swarna Ratham is used instead. The Garuda Vahanam is on 16 October from 6:30 to 11:30 PM, and Chakra Snanam at 6 AM on 20 October (Source: TTD News, 27 September 2026). TTD expects more devotees than in September because of Dussehra holidays (Source: The Hans India, 6 October 2026), and VIP Break and privileged darshans are cancelled from 11 to 20 October (Source: TTD News, 6 October 2026). Full schedule: Navaratri Brahmotsavam 2026 vahana schedule and Garuda Seva, October 2026. NRIs can watch on SVBC.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Tirumala Salakatla Brahmotsavam 2026?

It was held from 15 to 23 September 2026, with Ankurarpanam on 14 September and Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam on 8 September (TTD News, 31 August 2026). The festival ended with Dhwajavarohanam on the night of Wednesday 23 September (TTD News, 23 September 2026).

How many devotees attended the 2026 Brahmotsavam?

At its post-festival press conference, as reported by Deccan Chronicle on 23 September 2026, TTD said 5.76 lakh devotees had darshan over eight days. At a 5 October review, TTD cited an average of over 73,500 darshans a day during the festival (The Hans India, 6 October 2026).

How much was the hundi collection during the Brahmotsavam?

TTD reported hundi offerings of Rs 28.94 crore during the Salakatla Brahmotsavam, as reported by Deccan Chronicle on 23 September 2026.

When was the Garuda Seva in 2026?

The Salakatla Brahmotsavam Garuda Seva was on Saturday night, 19 September 2026, beginning at 6:30 PM (The Hans India, 20 September 2026). The Navaratri Brahmotsavam has a second Garuda Seva on 16 October 2026, from 6:30 to 11:30 PM (TTD News, 27 September 2026).

Why are there two Brahmotsavams at Tirumala in 2026?

Because 2026 has an Adhika (extra) masa. In such years TTD holds the annual Salakatla Brahmotsavam and a separate Navaratri Brahmotsavam in the Dasara month; in 2026 that runs from 12 to 20 October (TTD News, 31 August 2026).

Can I watch the Brahmotsavam from abroad?

Yes. SVBC (Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel), TTD's devotional channel, broadcasts the vahana sevas, and many NRI families watch the Garuda Seva live. The October Navaratri Brahmotsavam is the next chance this year.

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

Last checked: 9 October 2026. Dates and figures on this page come only from TTD News releases and news reports, each named with its date. The headline figures (5.76 lakh devotees, Rs 28.94 crore hundi) are as reported by Deccan Chronicle from TTD's press conference. We did not find an official day-by-day vahana list for the 2026 Salakatla edition, so we do not reproduce one. HinduTone is not affiliated with TTD.

Related guides

• Srivari Navaratri Brahmotsavam 2026: vahana schedule
• Tirumala Garuda Seva, October 2026
• Tirumala and Tirupati calendar, October 2026
• TTD news, October 2026: latest updates
• Tirumala Venkateswara Temple