Traditional fervour and gaiety marked the immersion ceremony of Goddess Durga at the pandal put up by various youth associations as part of Sri Devi Sarannavarathri celebrations at Radha Krishna temple junction at Seethammapeta,
The imposing idol of the Mother Goddess and those of other deities drew devotees from different parts of the city during the last 10 days. The pandal, decorated with exotic flowers like orchids and anthuriums, brought from Bangalore, was another highlight of festival.
“A total of Rs.1.6 lakhs was spent on decoration of the pandal,” chief organiser Sampangi Srinivasa Rao said. The other highlights during the festival include: worship of the Goddess with roses, decoration of the idol with currency notes worth Rs.18 lakhs and worship with Michelia Champaca (‘sampangi').
Women and young girls, carrying 108 kalasams with ‘deepams' (lamps) placed on top of them, participated in the procession going ahead of the vehicle carrying the idols as part of the immersion ceremony on Saturday.
Earlier, folk arts like ‘kolatam', ‘dappulu', ‘sannai melam' and ‘tappetagullu' were presented by traditional artistes to the delight of the gathering.
The organisers prepared five types of ‘prasadams' (offering to the Goddess) – paravannam, halwa, pulihora, senagalu – it was distributed among the devotees.
