October is one of the busiest months of the year at the Srivari temple in Tirumala. The nine-day Navaratri Brahmotsavam fills the middle of the month, and it is followed by the Pournami Garuda Seva at the end. This page lists the festivals in October at Tirumala in date order, so you can see at a glance which days are worth planning a visit around, and which days to avoid if you want a quieter darshan.
Festivals in October at Tirumala 2026:
| Date | Day | Festival |
| 11 October | Sunday | Ankurarpanam for the Navaratri Brahmotsavam |
| 12 October | Monday | Navaratri Brahmotsavam begins |
| 16 October | Friday | Garuda Seva (Brahmotsavam) |
| 20 October | Tuesday | Avabhrutham (Chakra Snanam), the closing day of the Brahmotsavam, and Sri Vedanta Desikulu Sattumora |
| 21 October | Wednesday | Boodathalwar Varsha Tiru Nakshatram |
| 26 October | Monday | Pournami Garuda Seva |
These are the dates TTD has announced for the festivals in October at Tirumala. TTD can revise festival arrangements at short notice, so check with TTD a few days before you travel.
11 October: Ankurarpanam
Ankurarpanam is the ceremony that opens the festival. Sacred seeds are sown in the evening, and the Brahmotsavam begins the next morning. It takes place from 7 PM to 9 PM. Our page on Ankurarpanam at Tirumala explains what the ceremony involves.
12 to 20 October: Navaratri Brahmotsavam
The Navaratri Brahmotsavam runs for nine days, from 12 to 20 October. Each day Lord Malayappa Swamy is taken around the four Mada streets on a different vahanam, once in the morning and again in the evening. The morning procession is around 8 AM to 10 AM and the evening one around 7 PM to 9 PM. Here are the days of the festivals in October at Tirumala that matter most when you are planning a trip:
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- 12 October (Monday): the festival starts. The Bangaru Tiruchi Utsavam is at 9 AM, and the Pedda Shesha Vahanam is in the evening.
- 16 October (Friday): Garuda Seva, the biggest day of the festival. More on this below.
- 17 October (Saturday): Hanumad Vahanam in the morning, then Pushpaka Vimanam at 4 PM and Gaja Vahanam in the evening.
- 19 October (Monday): Swarna Rathotsavam (the golden chariot), from 7 AM.
- 20 October (Tuesday): Chakra Snanam, from 6 AM to 9 AM.
The full day-by-day vahanam list, with the Snapana Tirumanjanam timings, is on our Tirumala Srivari Brahmotsavams 2026 page. To learn what each vahanam means, read the divine vahanams of Lord Venkateswara, and if you plan to watch from the Mada streets see our guide to the harathi points during Brahmotsavams.
16 October: Garuda Seva
Garuda Seva is the highlight of the Brahmotsavam. Lord Malayappa Swamy is carried on the Garuda Vahanam through the four Mada streets, and it draws one of the largest crowds of the year. This year the Garuda Seva is on Friday 16 October, from 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM. People start taking their places in the galleries well before the evening.
If you want to see it, plan to be on the hill the day before and expect a long wait. If you want a calmer visit, choose a day outside the Brahmotsavam. For the September Brahmotsavam TTD cancelled several arjitha sevas as well as the senior citizen, divyang, infant, NRI and donor darshans. Please check our Brahmotsavam page and the TTD notices before you travel in October, in case the same applies.
20 October: Avabhrutham and Sri Vedanta Desikulu Sattumora
The Brahmotsavam closes on 20 October with Avabhrutham, the sacred bath, also called Chakra Snanam. The Sudarshana Chakra is taken for the holy bath in the morning, from 6 AM to 9 AM. The same day is observed as Sri Vedanta Desikulu Sattumora, which marks the end of the celebration of the great acharya Vedanta Desika.
21 October: Boodathalwar Varsha Tiru Nakshatram
The day after the Brahmotsavam, on 21 October, the temple observes the birth star of Boodathalwar, one of the twelve Alwar saints whose hymns are sung in Vaishnava temples. Varsha Tiru Nakshatram means the annual birth star day. It is a quiet temple observance rather than a large public festival.
26 October: Pournami Garuda Seva
On the full moon day, Monday 26 October, the monthly Pournami Garuda Seva is scheduled. Lord Malayappa Swamy is taken around the four Mada streets on the Garuda Vahanam, from 7 PM to 9 PM. TTD sometimes cancels it, and the announcement usually comes only a few days ahead, so see our Pournami Garuda Seva dates for 2026 page for the full list.
Planning Your Visit for the Festivals in October at Tirumala
- Brahmotsavam days are the most crowded. 12 to 20 October will see the heaviest rush, and Garuda Seva on the 16th is the peak. Rooms on the hill and in Tirupati fill up early.
- Bus tour packages are suspended during the Brahmotsavam. Plan your own transport and stay, or go before or after these dates.
- Book early. The Rs. 300 Special Entry Darshan tickets and TTD rooms are released three months ahead, and our quota release page lists what opens when. The room booking guide explains the process step by step.
- Check the day before. Dates for the festivals in October at Tirumala can change. Counter timings and special arrangements are announced by TTD close to the day. The helpline is 155257, and notices are on the official TTD website.
Track Tirumala Festivals and Waiting Times on Your Phone
Our free app shows Tirumala darshan waiting-time estimates, so you can pick a calmer day around the festival crowds.
Festivals in October at Tirumala – Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Navaratri Brahmotsavam among the festivals in October at Tirumala?
It runs from 12 to 20 October 2026, with Ankurarpanam on 11 October.
When is Garuda Seva in October 2026?
Friday 16 October, from 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM.
When is the Pournami Garuda Seva in October 2026?
Monday 26 October, from 7 PM to 9 PM.
When does the Brahmotsavam end?
On 20 October with Avabhrutham (Chakra Snanam), from 6 AM to 9 AM.
Where can I see all the festivals for the year?
Our festivals in Tirumala page lists them, and the festivals in October at Tirumala are covered above.
