I had always heard about the sacred ritual of tonsuring at Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, but it wasn’t until my recent visit that I truly understood its depth.
As I stood in the long queue that wound through the hills of Tirumala, my heart was filled with a mix of nervousness and devotion. For years, I had carried the thought of offering my hair to Lord Venkateswara as an act of surrender, a way of letting go of ego and attachments. Finally, the day had come.
The tonsure hall was buzzing with activity — men, women, and even children sat patiently, waiting for their turn. I took my seat, closed my eyes, and as the barber’s razor gently touched my head, I whispered a silent prayer. With each stroke, I felt a strange sense of lightness, as if layers of pride, vanity, and worries were being shaved away along with my hair.
When the ritual was done, I looked at my reflection — bald, bare, yet glowing with an inner peace I had never experienced before. Strangely, I didn’t feel self-conscious; instead, I felt liberated. My hair, which I once cherished so much, now lay on the floor, soon to be collected as an offering.
