The sacred hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara turned into a sea of devotion on Sunday evening as the imperial ‘Garuda Seva’ commenced at 6.07 p.m., half-an-hour earlier than the appointed hour, electrifying the atmosphere with resounding chants of ‘Govinda … Govinda’ from tens of thousands of ecstatic devotees. As the spangled golden ‘Garuda Vahanam’ emerged majestically from the Vahanamandapam, the vast expanse before the temple erupted in claps, cheers, and a thunderous chorus of ‘Govinda namam’, creating an overwhelming wave of spiritual fervour. Hundreds of devotees, standing reverently in their places, offered ‘harati’ in unison, their lamps flickering like stars in the backdrop of an overcast sky. The processional deity, resplendent in an array of priceless and antique ornaments, embodied the grandeur of centuries-old temple tradition. The air, thick with incense and devotion, carried the echoes of faith that have resonated through these hills for generations.