The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Thousands witness ‘Sirimanotsavam’

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Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Thousands witness ‘Sirimanotsavam’

Correspondent

The priest is believed to represent ‘Ammavaru’ on the day

- Photo: K.R. Deepak

Religious flavour: Bantupalli Byraginaidu, a priest, being hoisted in Vizianagaram on Tuesday.

VIZIANAGARAM: Thousands of devotees witnessed ‘Sirimanotsavam’ of Sri Pydimamba, the presiding deity of the famous Pydithalli temple, here on Tuesday.

A highly popular annual jathara in North Coastal Andhra, the festival involves carrying the ‘Sirimanu’ (a decorated log fixed to a cart) in a procession. The priest, who is believed to represent the ‘Ammavaru’ on the day, is made to sit on a special seat fastened to the top of the ‘Sirimanu’. Devotees hurl bananas at the priest, the belief being those touching him would get their wishes fulfilled. The turnout was much higher than last year and this was attributed to the good monsoon and their expectations of a bountiful harvest.

Devotees began arriving at the temple at Three Lamps Junction here since the wee hours and waited in serpentine queues to have darshan of the Goddess. Though the jatra was delayed by an hour, it did not dampen their devotional spirit.

Former chief priest of the temple, Bantupalli Byraginaidu, was brought to the temple in a procession around 3 p.m. As ‘Sirimanu’ fixed to a pulley on a cart was hoisted pointing to the sky, devotees started hurling bananas at the priest. He was attired in white dhoti, kurta and traditional turban.

The ‘Sirimanu’ was followed in tow by ‘Paaladhara’, a fishing net decorated in the shape of an umberalla and ‘Anjali radham’, which made the three ceremonial trips from the temple to the fort. Hereditary trustees of the temple, P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju and family members, watched the procession.

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