The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Gaiety marks celestial wedding

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Tuesday, Apr 15, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Gaiety marks celestial wedding

D.Chandra Bhaskar Rao

Devotees congregate in large numbers for the ‘Kalyanam’ in Bhadrachalam

— Photo: G. N. Rao

Heavenly bliss: Rituals of celestial wedding being performed at Bhadradri on Monday.

BHADRACHALAM: Pomp and pageantry marked the divine wedding at the Bhadradri temple on Monday.

As expected, devotees congregated in large numbers in the temple town to witness the celestial fete.

The Mithila stadium where Srirama Navami was celebrated as a State festival echoed to Vedic hymns as the priests performed the rituals of the ceremony as per the Pancharatragama sastra.

Undeterred by the special security arrangements that marked the visit of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and some of his Cabinet colleagues, the devout could make their humble presence felt in the enclosures singing “Bhadradri Varadagovinda, Sri Ramadasa Varadagovinda.”

The din and bustle attached to the VIPs and people accompanying them could hardly distract their attention.

Tradition

The chief priests of the temple - Koti Ramakrishnamacharyulu and Podicheti Ramachandracharyulu - conducted the proceedings of the day as per the time-honoured rituals.

For Koti Krishnamacharyulu, who would be retiring by the year end, it was the 50th Sitarama Kalyanam performed in his tenure.

He said that the ‘Kalyanam’ was one of the greatest festivities instituted by saint-poet, Bhakta Ramadas, in the temple and was being performed as an annual event for the past 350 years.

The festive idols were brought to the venue in a gaudily decorated palanquin accompanied by a huge religious procession.

The idols were adored with resplendent jewellery, including the famous Chintakupathama and Pachala Pathakam, presented by Bhakta Ramadasa.

Silk clothes offered

Lord Rama and Sita were united in wedlock in Abhijit lagnam at 12 noon.

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy offered silk clothes, while Endowments Minister J. Ratnakar Rao presented the Mutyala Talambralu, in line with tradition.

A devotee from West Godavari presented a Suvarna Chatram - golden umbrella and padukas costing some Rs 7.5 lakh in the day.

Another devotee from Visakhapatnam presented a gold-plated cradle for the Unjala seva, which formally commenced on Sunday.

Near stampede

As soon as the Chief Minister left the place, the devotees tried to advance towards the Kalyana Mantapam for collecting the Mutyala Talambralu, which resulted in a near stampede.

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