kbadiger

Open Question

TravelExpert (Shashwat)

22 November 2012

Head shaving is a popular ritual in several pilgrimage destinations of India. In Tirupati, it is a part the custom and tradition in the temple. Devotees across the country pay votive offerings to Lord Venkatshewra, a form of Lord Vishnu and the main deity of the Tirupati Temple and donate their hair after the completion. Some devotees also shave their head and then make a votive. Some of them also perform this only for a way to offer their prayers to the God. According to the legends, once a woman saw that Lord Venkatshewra has no hair on his head in a particular spot and she plucked her own hair and devoted it to him. The popular belief behind head shaving is that hair is the upper most part of body on which one has proud. So by devoting hair, they express that they are devoting their proud before the God. Removing hair from head is also considered as removing negative thoughts from mind and visiting the temple with pure mind.

Head shave is a very popular ritual in Tirupati. Both men and women perform it in a large manner. There is a huge head shaving center in Tirupati where you can ideally perform this process. Barbers there are expert in head shaving and you do not have to worry about it. However, you can make your own requests such as using new blade and being careful. The process is fast because there are a lot of devotees who come to perform this ritual.

During your visit, you can consider staying in one of the good hotels in Tirupati.