The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Lagnams, not leaders, call the shots!

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 23, 2007
ePaper


<SCRIPT language='JavaScript1.1' SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?"> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?"> <IMG SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?" BORDER=0 WIDTH=468 HEIGHT=60 ALT="Click Here"></A> </NOSCRIPT>

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Lagnams, not leaders, call the shots!

A. Saye Sekhar

HERE COME MY BLESSINGS: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy showers `akshintalu' on newly-married couples during a mass marriage function at TTD kalyanamandapam in Hyderabad on Thursday. — PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

HYDERABAD: What can't be adjourned? The most auspicious time, of course! No wonder, Thursday witnessed hundreds of marriages across the State as the day was considered the most auspicious.

`Meena lagnam' at 7.59 a.m. and `Vrishabha lagnam' at 11.54 a.m. were the most powerful muhurtams on Thursday. But what gave the strength to the muhurtams? Obviously, the combination of tithi-vaara-nakshatram (date, day and the zodiac sign as per Telugu almanac) — `Panchami, Guruvaaram and Aswani nakshatram.' The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), too, chose this day for launching its mass marriage programme across the State. Almost all celebrities were among the list of invitees for one marriage or the other. The attendance of Governor, Chief Minister, Speaker and a host of other dignitaries at the function in the city wasn't a mere coincidence.

Thin attendance in the Assembly was too conspicuous to ignore. This was not exclusive to any one political party or leader. Fragrance of perfumes wafted across Assembly lobbies — indication enough of MLAs coming prepared to attend a marriage or two, if not more.

Discussion can wait

Even those who turned up were seen leaving in a hurry soon after the Speaker adjourned the House, almost three hours before the usual time of 1.30 p.m. While a handful of TDP legislators excused themselves from the impromptu TDLP meeting after the House was adjourned, many Congress legislators also took to the wheels.

The tailpiece came from Telugu Desam leader T. Devender Goud. After submitting a memorandum to the Governor, TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu asked him whether he would be going over to NTR Trust Bhavan. Mr. Goud, flashing a smile, politely excused himself, saying: "Sir, I have a marriage to attend. I will see you in the evening!"

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh