Like AadiFridays are important days for praying to Goddess, PurattasiSaturdays are very important and special prayers are done for Venkatachalapathy with people following many Vrathamsand pujaswith various offerings like chakara pongaletc.
Mahalaya Amavasya:The 15 days preceding the New moon day of Purattasiis considered as Mahalaya Paksham(full moon to new moon) period. During this time, our forefathers are supposed to come close to us on this earth and people generally offer special prayers to them with tharpanam, mahalaya srartham etc. This is followed not only for one’s forefathers but for all the departed kith and kin.
Navrathri: Once the rituals for the forefathers are completed, the time for celebration begins with Navrathri (nine nights, literally). The first day of Navrathriis the day after the MahalayaAmavasyacompletes and continues for ten days. The first three days pujas are for Goddess Parvathi, the next three days for Goddess Lakshmi and the last three days for Goddess Saraswathi – the third day of puja to Goddess Saraswathi (the ninth of the celebrations) being celebrated as Saraswathi Pujain households and Ayudha Pujain workplace. The tenth day is Vijaya Dasami meaning the victorious tenth day when the Goddess slew Mahishasuran.