The Hindu : Arasavalli getting ready for Suryajayanti

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 26, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Srikakulam

Arasavalli getting ready for Suryajayanti

By Our Staff Reporter

SRIKAKULAM, JAN. 25. Arasavalli is again being decked up for the annual Suryajayanti, which is celebrated on every Radha Saptami.

Devotees from all over the State and the north coastal districts and the neighbouring Orissa throng the abode of Sri Suryanarayana Swamy, presiding deity, to worship him in the nijarupa on January 28.

Arasavalli has the distinction of being the only temple where the Sun God, whom the devout describe as Pratyaksha Narayana, is worshipped daily. The mahaksheerabhishekam will be performed to the deity from 1 a.m. on January 28 followed by nijarupa darshan.

The authorities expect between 50,000 and one lakh devotees for the annual fete. The nijarupa darshan for those who purchase the abhishekam ticket will begin from 3 a.m. The Executive Officer, M. Padmalochana, and the Head Priest, Ippili Sankara Sarma, told presspersons here today that the RTC, the police and the Medical and Health Departments were involved for facilitating smooth travel, darshan and to deal with other problems that might crop up.

Mr. Padmalochana said drinking water would be made available to those waiting in the queue. Also arrangements are being made to ensure that any VIP rush would not delay darshan to those waiting in the queue. Several voluntary organisations, including the Satya Sai Sevasamiti and the Gurajada institutions, have come forward to supply water, food and buttermilk to the devotees. Besides the temple staff, more than 20 employees of the Endowments Department will also be involved in the conduct of the fete. The Regional Joint Commissioner of Endowments, G.V. Narasmiha Murthy, will supervise the arrangements.

The Executive Officer said several new constructions paving way for more amenities to devotees were being added. Among them is the construction of a compound wall around the Indrapushkarini spending Rs. 17 lakhs, granted by the District Collector. The devasthanam office extension, vahanasala and bhogasala were constructed at a cost of Rs. 4 lakhs.

On the first floor construction is going on, with the Rs. 2 lakhs donated by Kuna Satyanarayana, to arrange for nityannadanam.

The devasthanam has deposits of Rs. 20 lakhs for the annadanam. The mandapam extension and flooring taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 2 lakhs, courtesy Murari, a fruit merchant, was completed. The construction of Navagraha mantapam was completed and idols donated by the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam (TTD) would be installed there. Granite flooring of mahamantapam has been taken up with the Rs. 60,000 contributed by N. Sankarayya of Visakhapatnam.

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