Thank you – Milton Keynes Srinivasa Kalyanam

The team of volunteers gathered for decorating the venue the prior day of the event and made all the arrangements to give the devotees a blissful experience and to make this event successful.

As the day begun, the fog was slowly clearing the sky acting like a curtain raiser for the event but it was still extremely cold and freezing with -2 degree temperature. All the organisers, volunteers and devotees were slowly gathering at the Venue MKHA to witness the celestial wedding. Added to it our resident priest, Sriman Santhosh swami changed the atmosphere beams with vibrant visuals and extreme positivity.

The Event started with Deepa Prajvalana, where the lamp is lit to welcome the God and the Goddess. On this occasion, all the devotees carried the supreme lord on their shoulders to the Kalyana Mandapam (Stage) singing the vedic hymns. With divine presence of Lord Venkateshwara and his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi the occasion became extremely special.

Followed by Pallaki Seva, a service in a planquin where Sri Venkateshwara swamy along with Sridevi and Bhudevi are taken out in procession. The lord is placed in a beautifully decorated palanquin with sanctity and honour that was carried by male devotees. While the female devotees performed a dance called, Kolatam chanting the mantra “Govindaa…Gooovinda” in front of the palaquin welcoming the God and the Goddess. On this occassion, the Lord and his consorts are taken on a procession along the 4 streets surrounding the hall, before taking them inside the Kalyana Mandapam.

After Pallaki Seva, the ritual performed to wake up Lord Venkateshwara from his celestial sleep by singing sacred Sanskrit hymns, Suprabhata Seva. This was followed by Vishnu Sahasranama Parayanam where all the devotees were chanting out the mantras loudly. Everyone witnessed it attentively and curiously. This was followed by kids singing about the glories of the Lord.

Next, our priest Sriman Santhosh swami started the Kalyana Mahotsavam with Bhajans and every one got engrossed in the event. Our priest guided all the devotees to chant hymns/slokas/follow their instructions while performing the Kalyanam. The wedding ceremony is held according to the traditional rituals. The deity of the Lord and his consorts were beautifully decorated. This is followed by Yagnopavetra dharana, Jilakara Bellam on the head, Mangala sutra dharana, and Talambralu and then Lord and his consorts are garlanded by a song (malaisatinaal). It was a beautiful wedding with a perfect combination of rituals and spirituality which took all the devotees and attendants to a different world. We all deeply felt Lord Venkateshwara’s presence and his divine grace on all of us all the time and we are sure that all the powerful Veda mantras still echoing in our ears and his powerful and beautiful glimpse is still in our eyes. This genuine experience cannot be expressed in words but can only be felt and cherished.

With 30 days preparation, 15+ Volunteers, 200+ devotees from different parts of Milton Keynes gathered to celebrate the supreme lord’s Kalyanam (Wedding). It was greatly an overwhelming response from the devotees in the Kalyanam. It definitely curtains for an amazing, astounding, awesome, unbelievable, unimaginable and unforgettable occasion for all the devotees and attendants of Milton Keynes.

Kalyanam was followed by Prasada vitarana(distribution), Virtual Reality show of Statue Of Equality monument, colouring by the kids, VTS (Volunteering Together for Service UK) Charity stall.

It’s definitely a memorable day for team JETUK and Big Thank you for all the participants, volunteers and donors for making it possible despite very cold weather.

Regards

Team JETUK Milton Keynes