Temple Umbrellas: A Mark of Honour in Deity Processions

A temple umbrella, known as sami kudai, kovil kudai, or god umbrella depending on where you're ordering from, is carried alongside the deity during processions and festival days. It's a mark of honour going back to temple traditions across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, where it's known as godugulu. This page carries two main styles: the Tirupati umbrella, in heights from 3 ft up to 9 ft, and the utsava umbrella, sized by cane count (8-cane and 12-cane, including special variants) rather than height. Every price is shown upfront, so temple committees and utsava groups can compare styles before choosing the right one for their procession.

Size & Style Table

Buying Guide

• Tirupati umbrella vs. utsava umbrella: the difference is in how they're sized and used. The Tirupati-style umbrella is sized by height (3 ft to 9 ft) and modelled on the ceremonial umbrellas seen at Tirupati and similar large temples. It's the choice for a grand, single-umbrella presence over the deity. The utsava umbrella is sized by cane count (8-cane, 12-cane) instead of height, where more canes generally means a wider canopy, and is built for processions where the umbrella moves with the deity through the streets.
• Match the size to the occasion. A smaller Tirupati umbrella (3 to 5 ft) suits a temple sanctum or a modest procession. Larger sizes (6 to 9 ft) are for major festival days and bigger processions where the umbrella needs to be visible from a distance. For utsava umbrellas, 12-cane gives a wider canopy than 8-cane for the same reason.
• Weather and outdoor use. Both styles are built for outdoor processions, which is their primary use, but specific weatherproofing or rain-readiness isn't detailed on the product pages. If a procession is likely to run in rain, confirm this directly before the event.
• Customisation. RSS Online's collection pages carry a general “Customisation Done” banner, so customisation is offered as a service. For temple-name printing or embroidery specifically on an umbrella, confirm the exact scope and turnaround with the team when ordering.

Beyond the umbrella itself, the collection also includes a Cotton Suruti Set, a companion cloth pair used alongside temple umbrellas and other procession items, if you're setting up the full procession kit in one order.

For the rest of your procession setup, we carry all four alongside the umbrella range: deity cloth, thombai, vahana, and deity jewellery.

FAQs

1. What sizes of temple umbrella do you make?

Tirupati-style umbrellas are available from 3 ft up to 9 ft. Utsava umbrellas are sized by cane count instead: 8-cane and 12-cane, including special variants of each.

2. What is the price of a sami kudai?

Tirupati-style umbrellas start at ₹9,420. Utsava umbrellas start at ₹4,989. Price increases with size, by height for Tirupati style and by cane count for Utsava style.

3. What is the difference between a utsava umbrella and a procession umbrella?

“Utsava umbrella” and “procession umbrella” generally describe the same category, an umbrella carried during temple festivals and deity processions. On this page, the Utsava Umbrella specifically refers to the cane-count-sized style (8-cane, 12-cane), distinct from the height-sized Tirupati umbrella.

4. Are the umbrellas suitable for outdoor processions in rain?

Both styles are built for outdoor processions, which is their primary use. Specific rain- or weatherproofing details aren't listed on the product pages. For a procession likely to run in rain, please confirm directly with us beforehand.

5. Can the temple name be printed or embroidered on the umbrella?

Customisation is offered as a general service across our collections. For temple-name printing or embroidery specifically on an umbrella, please contact us to confirm scope, design, and turnaround before ordering.

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