Season's Greetings
Dear Devotees,
We wish to take this opportunity to wish all the devotees a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. We have meticulously planned the festivities for New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and Ekadashi. The flyer on the website explains the programs in detail.
As many of you have observed, we have brought numerous improvements to both the Temple and the organization. The main structure which houses the presiding deity of the Temple, Lord Venkateswara, has been upgraded to include multiple television screens to enable the devotees to watch the events in real time. We’ve also housed the Acharyas on both sides of the entrance to the Sanctum Sanctorum to ensure the sanctity associated with worship of the Acharyas. We have also restored the chandeliers in both the Venkateswara Temple and the Shiva complex to their original pristine condition. These improvements and others we have made will enhance the grandeur and majesty of the iconic temple.
We have set in place the proper procedures for worship, and these procedures will be strictly followed as per signs posted at strategic locations. Execution of these procedures will be managed and enforced by volunteers. As we have done in the most recent years, we will have both an Archana line and a Dharmadarshan line. We will accept fees for the Archana by cash or credit card, and appropriate receipts will be issued. The dining services will be available from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM on New Year’s Day. I believe the successful administration of the procedures is the responsibility of the devotees, and we earnestly request all of you to follow the procedures for the greatest good of the greatest number of devotees. The services at the Venkateswara Temple will be performed by the following Priests: Narasimha Bhattar, Krishnamacharyulu, and Prasanna Kumar. The services at Shiva complex will be performed by Priest Prasad, and our new Priest, Bharani Rajan. Please take the opportunity to welcome our new Priest at Shiva Complex. The Temple office will be managed by Raghavapillai Manavalan and Srimathi Samudrala.
As in previous years, we will charge a nominal fee of $10.00 USD for parking, and to facilitate the quick movement of cars, we request the devotees to pay in cash.
The New Year’s Eve celebration will commence at 9:00 PM. Bhajans will be led by the well known Carnatic singer, Dr. Rose Muralikrishnan. The midnight services will conclude with a spectacular Maha Aarthi.
We thank all of the devotees whose donations and patronage make it possible for us to provide these services at the Temple. We want to once again wish all of you a Happy New Year and a prosperous decade. We look forward to seeing all of you on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and Ekadashi.
Thank you,
Hindu Temple Society of Southern California