Special Seva

Every year in the month of January, hundreds of devotees wear the maala and offer special worship to Sri Lakshmi Ranganatha Swamy. The 12-day Maala Vratha begins in such a way that it ends exactly on the day of Makara Sankranti.

From the day they wear the maala, devotees follow strict discipline. Every morning at 4:00 AM, they wake up, take a holy bath, apply tilaka, and perform three rounds of pradakshina around the temple. They offer salutations to the deity, sit for bhajans, and at 6:30 AM, the *Maha Mangalarati* takes place. After this, devotees receive teertha, chant the Lord’s name, and again offer three rounds of pradakshina. Prasada is distributed to all devotees.

The same procedure followed evening also

Maala devotees consume only temple prasada, both morning and night. For all 12 days, they leave their homes and stay on the sacred hill itself. Each day includes special pooja, *alankara, daily annadana, and continuous bhajans.

On the 12th day, the sacred Hirumudi Seve is performed. The utsava murthy of Sri Ranganatha Swamy is taken from Aremallenahalli to Kyamasandra, where Hirumudi is first tied for the devotees staying there. Later, Hirumudi is tied for the devotees of Aremallenahalli village. With Hirumudi on their heads, devotees march in a grand procession through the main streets and then return to the hill.

On this special day, 1001 deepas are lit, followed by Maha Mangalarati and a grand community annadana. The next morning, devotees remove their maala.

Throughout the 12 days, both morning and evening, Panchamrutha Abhisheka, bhajans by maala devotees, and beautiful alankara are performed. The true blessing of the maala comes through strict devotion and discipline. Every year, the number of maala devotees keeps increasing. Devotees from many places take vows and fulfill them through this sacred Maala Vratha of Sri Lakshmi Ranganatha Swamy.

The maala is finally immersed, and on Sankranti evening, during the majestic Ranganatha Swamy procession, the maala is ceremonially removed and completed.

Devotees may offer special services to the Lord on important occasions. The main services include Annadaana (food donation) and flower decoration.
Since new construction work is in progress, devotees may also contribute by providing necessary materials such as cement, sand, iron, or by assisting with any required labour or tasks.