Hamilton Balaji Temple to conduct Pavithrotsavam Ceremony

Trustees of Sri Balaji Temple Trust in Hamilton (Image Supplied)

Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, September 24, 2024

The Sri Balaji Temple Trust in Hamilton is preparing for the highly anticipated Pavithrotsavam ceremony, which will take place from Friday, October 11, 2024 to Sunday, October 13, 2024.

The three-day event aims to spiritually cleanse and rectify any ritual missteps over the past year. Devotees can attend special prayers and offerings at the temple, which will be open from 9 am to 9 pm during the Festival.

Devotees are encouraged to attend these ceremonies, which include ‘Homam’ (sacred fire rituals), ‘Abhishekam’ (anointing of deities), and the preparation of sacred ‘Pavitrams.’

The Significance

Pavithrotsavam is a Purification Ceremony performed to uphold the Temple’s Divine Energy. This ancient ritual aims to rectify unintentional human errors made during worship throughout the year, such as mistakes in mantras or kriyas.

Acting as a ‘Prayaschitta’ (atonement) event, it is believed to mitigate any shortcomings in temple rituals, ensuring the spiritual purity of both the temple and its devotees.

The Festival involves several key rites, including the chanting of sacred mantras, Homam, and a special Abhishekam to Lord Venkateshwara’s Moola Moorthi and Utsava Murthis. The sacred Pavitrams, made from five-coloured silk garlands, will be purified and offered to the deities, culminating in the Pavitra Samarpana ceremony on Sunday, October 13, 2024, where these divine garlands will adorn the deities.

Community engagement

Bala Bhaskar Tikkisetty, Trustee and Public Relations Officer of the Sri Balaji Temple Trust, emphasised the importance of the Pavithrotsavam for Hamilton’s growing Hindu community.

“Pavithrotsavam is a cherished tradition that connects our community to its roots. It is a reminder of the importance of purity and devotion in our daily lives. For our Hamilton family, this event is an opportunity for spiritual renewal, bringing people together in the divine presence of Lord Venkateshwara. We invite everyone to experience this sacred Festival and be part of the blessings it offers,” he said.

“This is a landmark event for our community and for New Zealand as a whole. The level of detail and care going into the planning is extraordinary. Every element of this Festival, from the rituals to the sacred offerings, is being meticulously arranged to ensure that it is a truly divine experience for all who attend,” he added.

A unique experience

According to Mr Tikkisetty, the Sri Balaji Temple Trust has gone to great lengths to make the event a success, “It will be a deeply immersive and spiritual journey for our devotees, one that has never before been experienced in this part of the world,” he said.

In preparation for this year’s Pavithrotsavam, the Temple has arranged discounted accommodation for out-of-town devotees and coordinated with the Sharanagathi group from Auckland to ensure the event adheres to Agama-Sastra protocols.

Chief Priest Parameswaran Chandru of the Papakura (Auckland)-based Sri Ganesh Temple will lead the ceremony, supported by priests from various Temples across the country.

The Festival will conclude with the Pavitra Samarpana ceremony on Sunday, October 13, 2024, where sponsoring devotees will receive the sanctified Pavitrams as a token of divine blessings, marking the successful completion of this spiritually significant event.

About Sri Balaji Temple Trust

The Sri Balaji Temple Trust, formalised with a nine-member Board of Trustees in 2009, comprises members from various countries including India, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Malaysia, and South Africa. Since 2015, the Temple has been a key spiritual and cultural centre for Hamilton’s Hindu community. The members of the trust as well as the wider Hindu community work to foster religious and cultural harmony through the temple’s activities and services.

The Pavithrotsavam event includes several sacred rituals as follows: