Religious excitement filled the air at Tirumala's hill temple for Lord Venkateswara's annual Ratha Saptami festival on Sunday. The star of the event was Lord Malayappa Swamy's procession on seven vahanams: Suryaprabha, Chinna Sesha, Hanumantha, Garuda, Kalpavriksha, Sarvabhoopala, and Chandraprabha. Starting before dawn with Suryaprabha and ending late at night with Chandraprabha, tens of thousands gathered to see the first sun rays touch the deity's feet. However, the festive joy was dampened by serious traffic problems. Strict police presence and heavy barricades blocked all main roads leading to the temple's procession routes. Devotees had to walk long distances, some up to four to five kilometers, just to find a spot to watch the vahanams. People inside viewing galleries were not allowed to leave, despite many requests. The Outer Ring Road saw chaos with vehicles parked badly on both sides, causing severe traffic jams. Even those trying to leave found themselves stuck in long snarls. Despite these troubles, officials ensured free food, water, and drinks were available to devotees who stayed in the galleries until the end. While the festival delivered spiritual moments, managing the crowd and traffic posed an unexpected challenge for Tirumala this year.