The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Loka Kalyana Rathams to be taken all over the country

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Friday, Apr 16, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Loka Kalyana Rathams to be taken all over the country

Staff Reporter

Ashok Leyland to manufacture three to four vehicles, says TTD EO

TTD EO I.Y.R. Krishna Rao with archakas at Y. Ramavaram.

Y. Ramavaram (East Godavari Agency): TTD Executive Officer I.Y.R. Krishna Rao on Thursday said that three to four Loka Kalyana Rathams were being manufactured by Ashok Leyland with a view to using them for Hindu Dharma Prachara campaign launched by the TTD.

Addressing a crowd of Khoya and Konda Kapu tribes here, Mr. Krishna Rao said the purpose of the rathams was to ensure darshan and prasadam of Lord Venkateswara for common devotees wherever they were, thus avoiding the trouble of coming all the way to Tirumala.

He said all the daily rituals performed in Tirumala would be performed for seven days wherever the ratham was stationed in each of the three mandals of the district. Mr. Krishna Rao said there would be no hundi collection from devotees or Arjita sevas.

He said with the success of the East Godavari trip, the TTD would take the rathams, albeit with some modifications in the height of the deity, to every nook and corner of the country. At the Govinda Kalyanam performed here, nearly 12 tribal archakas, who were trained at the SWETA training centre of the TTD, were also involved.

The kalyanam was performed at Y. Ramvaram, as it was believed that the Khoya tribals served Lava and Kusha, sons of Lord Rama. The tribals were also known for their links with sage Valmiki. The village was also a major place for medicinal plants. As part of the Hindu Dharma Prachara programme, the TTD had set up an ayurvedic and allopathic medical camp besides the kalyanamantapam.

Free medicines were given to tribals. The Lok Kalyana Ratham would stay put in each mandal headquarters – Rajanagaram, Kothapeta and Kurokonda – for seven days each.

Additional Joint Collector B. Rama Rao, secretary of Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad Rallabandi Kavita Prasad, TTD Board member R. Suryaprakash Rao and others were present.

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