The Hindu : Gaiety marks Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Gaiety marks Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam

By Our Staff Reporter

BHADRACHALAM April 11. All roads led to the temple town as the celestial wedding - Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam -- was performed in the unique tradition on Friday. Gaiety and religious fervour marked the occasion. Undeterred by harsh sun and severe drought conditions prevailing in the State, hordes of devotees thronged the shrine.

All eyes were glued the dazzling silver throne in the midst of the Kalyana mantapam as the protocol of worship unfolded with the arrival of the festive idols for divine wedding. The idols bathed in the sacred waters were carried in a large religious procession. The bandobust for the occasion was so tight that the even the `archakas' and officials were allowed into the Kalyana mantapam as per the list furnished to the police well in advance.

The Minister for Endowments, Dandu Siva Rama Raju, went round all sectors taking stock of the arrangements. He talked to devotees personally. He facilitated free entry into the venue of the Kalyanothsvam to hundreds of devotees who could not get entry tickets. The air was filled with deep mysticism as the festive idols were seated on the silver throne thus commencing the wedding rituals at 10.20 a.m.

The idols were adorned with resplendent jewellery for the occasion. The idol of Lord Rama was adorned with the famous Pachala Pathakam gifted by the saint poet Bhakta Ramadasa after taking it around the Kalyanamantapam thus exhibiting it to the vast multitude of devotees, engrossed in Ramanama Smaranam. So was the case with the Chintaku Pathakam of Sita and Rama Mada of Lakshmana. Devotees who used to have a glimpse of these ornaments only on such special festive occasions, could here after see them all the year round.

A special museum built at a cost of Rs. 10 lakhs on the temple premises for ornaments of the shrine was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, and his wife Bhuvaneswari. The Chief Minister, presented the Mutyala Talambralu on behalf of the State Government in keeping with the tradition. The deities were presented with Pattu vastrams by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and the Sringeri Pitham. The `Gaja Pushpamala'with which the idols were garlanded on the occasion turned out to be a major attraction.

Lord Rama and his consort joined in wedlock in the auspicious Abhjit Lagna as the `Mangalya puja' was performed by the archakas with three mangala sutras, of which one was presented by Bhakta Ramadasa.

The Union Minister of State for Railways, Bandaru Dattatrya, the Minister for Roads and Buildings Tummala Nageswara Rao, the APCC president, M. Satyanarayana Rao, and a host of political leaders and dignitaries took part in the worship.

Our Tirumala Staff Reporter writes:

The festival was celebrated at the temple of Lord Venkateswara with pomp and gaiety.

Special rituals like `Snapana Tirumanjanam' and `Navami Afthanam' were performed to the Lord. In connection with the festival, rare and precious jewels were adorned to the presiding deity, after the weekly celestial `abhishekam'.

In the evening, the processional deities of Lord Rama and Lakshmana were taken around the Mada streets encircling the hill temple

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

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Naxals release policemen

Fodder 'specials'

Gaiety marks Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam

Stage set for launch of Devadula works

Transco proposals may hit consumers

ID cards for Bhadrachalam's permanent residents soon

Ticklish Chittoor district issues await CM