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Tirumala Festivals Complete Calendar, What Happens Through the Year
The Tirumala temple operates a year-round festival calendar with major celebrations in nearly every month. The biggest annual event is the nine-day Salakatla Brahmotsavam in September-October, but the calendar also includes Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan (December-January), Rathasaptami (February), Ugadi (March-April), Sri Padmavathi Karthika Brahmotsavam at Tiruchanoor (Karthika month, November–December), plus weekly and monthly observances. This article maps the complete festival year so you can time your pilgrimage with the events that match your interest.
Festival calendar at a glance
| Month | Major event | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| January | Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan (continues from Dec) | Through Jan 8 |
| February | Rathasaptami / Surya Jayanti | 1 day |
| February-March | Teppotsavam (float festival) | 3-5 days |
| March-April | Ugadi celebrations | 1 day + week |
| March-April | Vasanthotsavam (spring festival) | 3 days |
| April | Ramanavami | 1 day |
| May | Tirupati Gangamma Jathara (Tirupati city) | 9 days |
| May | Govindaraja Swamy Brahmotsavam | 9 days |
| June | Jyestabhishekam / Abideyaka Abhishekam | 1 day |
| August | Pavithrotsavam | 3-5 days |
| August-September | Krishnashtami / Gokulashtami | 1-2 days |
| September-October | Salakatla Brahmotsavam | 9 days (biggest) |
| October | Navaratri Brahmotsavam (some years) | 9 days |
| November–December | Sri Padmavathi Karthika Brahmotsavam (Tiruchanoor) | 9 days |
| November | Kaisika Dwadasi | 1 day |
| December | Dhanurmasam (Andal Tiruppavai recitation) | 30 days |
| Dec 30 – Jan 8 | Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan | 10 days |
2026 at a glance (verified TTD dates)
Last verified: 31 October 2026, against TTD announcements on news.tirumala.org. 2026 was a rare Adhika Masa year, so Tirumala held two Brahmotsavams.
| Event | 2026 dates |
|---|---|
| Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan (2025-26 cycle) | 30 December 2025 to 8 January 2026 (Vaikuntha Ekadasi on 30 December) |
| Ratha Saptami | 25 January 2026 |
| Annual Teppotsavam | 26 February to 2 March 2026 |
| Salakatla Brahmotsavam | 15 to 23 September 2026 (Garuda Vahanam on 19 September) |
| Navaratri Brahmotsavam (Adhika Masa year) | 12 to 20 October 2026 (Garuda Seva on 16 October) |
| Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Karthika Brahmotsavams, Tiruchanoor | Ankurarpanam 5 December; Brahmotsavams 6 to 14 December 2026 (TTD, 27 October 2026) |
| Vaikuntha Ekadasi (2026-27 cycle) | Not yet announced by TTD |
Lunar dates move every year. Do not plan 2027 travel on these dates; wait for TTD’s announcement.
Other observances through the year
- January: Bhogi and Makara Sankranti, after the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan window
- March-April: at Ugadi, the new year’s Panchangam is read at the temple
- July: Anivara Asthanam, the temple’s traditional year-end ritual
- December-January: Adhyayanotsavam, the recitation of the Divya Prabandham, around Vaikuntha Ekadasi
If you want the Brahmotsavam spectacle with slightly less crush, a second Brahmotsavam in an Adhika Masa year (as in October 2026) tends to draw fewer pilgrims than the main Salakatla festival for the same vahana sevas.
Festival highlights, the big ones
Salakatla Brahmotsavam (September-October), The principal annual festival. 9 days of vahana processions with Garuda Seva on Day 5 being the largest single-day event. See the dedicated Salakatla Brahmotsavam guide for full schedule.
Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan (December 30 – January 8), The Vaikuntha Dwaram (gate to heaven) is opened for 10 days. Pilgrims walking through receive the spiritual benefit of having “passed through heaven’s gate.” Crowds peak, accommodation impossible to find without months-ahead booking.
Rathasaptami (February), Single most spectacular day for vahana-seva enthusiasts. Sri Malayappa Swamy is taken on SEVEN different vahanas in one day, beginning at 5:30 AM with Suryaprabha (sun chariot) and ending in the evening. A unique annual phenomenon.
Brahmotsavam at Tiruchanoor (Karthika month, November–December), Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple’s annual festival. 9 days of processions parallel to the Tirumala Brahmotsavam but at Tiruchanoor.
Govindaraja Swamy Brahmotsavam (May-June), Tirupati city’s Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple annual festival. 9 days. Less crowded than Tirumala festivals.
Vahana sevas during Salakatla Brahmotsavam (Sept-Oct)
| Day | Morning | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dhwajarohanam | Pedda Sesha |
| 2 | Chinna Sesha | Hamsa (Swan) |
| 3 | Simha (Lion) | Muthyapu Pandiri |
| 4 | Kalpavruksha | Sarva Bhoopala |
| 5 | Mohini Avataram | Garuda |
| 6 | Hanumantha | Gaja (Elephant) |
| 7 | Surya Prabha | Chandra Prabha |
| 8 | Rathotsavam | Aswa (Horse) |
| 9 | Chakrasnanam | Dhwajavarohanam |
Daily / weekly observances
- Daily: Suprabhata (3 AM), Tomala, Archana, Kalyanotsavam (11 AM), Sahasra Deepa (5:30 PM), Unjala (7 PM), Ekantha (midnight)
- Monday: Monday Visesha Pooja
- Tuesday-Thursday: Thomala Seva, Sahasra Namaarchana available
- Wednesday: Sahasra Kalashabhishekam
- Thursday: Tiruppavada Seva
- Friday: Abhishekam, Vastralankarana
Festival-specific planning tips
For each major festival, accommodation booking timing matters:
| Festival | Accommodation booking timing | Crowd level |
|---|---|---|
| Salakatla Brahmotsavam | 3-4 months ahead | Extreme (peaks Day 5) |
| Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan | 3-4 months ahead | Extreme (10 days) |
| Tiruchanoor Brahmotsavam | 1-2 months ahead | High (Tiruchanoor only) |
| Rathasaptami | 2-3 months ahead | High (Tirumala) |
| Other festivals | 1-2 months ahead | Moderate |
Which festival should I attend?
First-time pilgrim: Any non-festival day. Festivals add crowds and difficulty. Plan a regular weekday darshan first.
Vahana seva enthusiast: Salakatla Brahmotsavam Day 5 (Garuda Seva) is the once-in-a-lifetime event. Alternatively, Rathasaptami for the seven-vahana spectacle.
Family pilgrimage with children: Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan if you can manage the crowd, spiritually significant. Or Ugadi for the festive but manageable atmosphere.
Marriage / family blessings: Sri Padmavathi Karthika Brahmotsavam at Tiruchanoor, quieter than Tirumala festivals and Padmavathi-focused.
Specific vow / mokku: Day 4 of Salakatla Brahmotsavam for Kalpavruksha procession (wish-fulfilling tree). Day 5 morning Mohini Avataram is also high-merit for boon-asking.
What’s special about the Tirumala calendar
- Several festivals are unique to Tirumala (Sarva Bhoopala Vahanam, Sahasra Kalashabhishekam), not performed at most Vishnu temples elsewhere
- The Annamacharya keertana tradition during processions is centuries-old and continuous
- Brahmotsavam in September-October aligns with the most spiritually significant time in Vaishnava calendar
- The festival calendar combines Vedic, Puranic, and folk traditions in a unified annual cycle
How to find current year’s dates
Festival dates shift each year based on the Telugu/Hindu calendar. To find the current year’s exact dates:
- Most authoritative: news.tirumala.org, TTD announces every major festival 1-3 months in advance
- Official portal: ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in, Festival booking page
- SVBC YouTube: Annual calendar videos posted by SVBC at year start
Common questions
Are festivals more crowded than regular days? Yes, dramatically. A regular Tuesday at Tirumala might have 50,000 pilgrims. Salakatla Brahmotsavam Day 5 has 200,000+ in a single day.
Are daily sevas suspended during festivals? No, daily sevas continue. But some get rescheduled or have reduced quota during major festivals.
Can I do Rs. 300 Special Entry Darshan during Brahmotsavam? Yes, with reduced quota. Festival-week Rs. 300 tickets sell out faster, book on release day.
Which is bigger: Salakatla or Navaratri Brahmotsavam? Salakatla. Navaratri Brahmotsavam is performed in some years; Salakatla is annual.
For the current year’s festival calendar, only use news.tirumala.org.
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- Chinna Sesha Vahanam
- Kalpavruksha Vahanam
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