The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Ayyappa devotees perform Maha Puja

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Friday, Dec 26, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Ayyappa devotees perform Maha Puja

Correspondent

Sri Ayyappa Swamy temple at Ayyappakonda was decked up for the occasion

MAHABUBNAGAR: December 25 has a special significance in Mahabubnagar town. While elsewhere the day stands for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, in Mahabubnagar town, Hindus, particularly devotees of Ayyappa Swamy, performed day-long Maha Puja with pomp and gaiety.

It has become customary for Palamoor Ayyappa Seva Samajam to perform the puja every year on the day. At Sri Ayyappa Swamy temple at Ayyappakonda, which situated in the middle of the town, the day for Ayyappa devotees starts at 5 a.m. with Suprabhata Seva followed by Ganapati and Navagraha homam. At around 6 a.m., the devotees performed Nityabhishekam and at 8 a.m. a blood donation camp was organised in which more than 180 Ayyappa devotees donated blood. It was followed by Sahasra Namarchana.

After these, at around 9.30 a.m. another important ritual - the procession of Kalasha and ornaments commenced from Ramalayam at Thoorpukaman after covering main thoroughfares in the town, reached Ayyappakonda. Hundreds of Ayyappa devotees and others who participated in the procession chanted - Swamye Sharanam Ayyappa, which was followed with Ashtabhishekham.

In the noon annadana programme was arranged by town Arya Viashya Sangham and in the evening Pushapabhishekam was done to the statue of Ayyappa Swamy.

And finally the grand Divya Padunettambadi Padipuja was performed, which concluded with Mangala Vakyam.

It was performed by Sri Venkateshwara Sharma of Tirupati. C.R. Bhagavantha Rao, president, Palamoor Ayyappa Seva Samajam, and other guru swamis in the town over saw the arrangements.

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