India’s image will grow further by achieving success in astronomy and space research and winning laurels in the sports arena this year, asserted Asthana Sidhanti of Srisailam temple Butte Veerabhadra Daivagna in his predictions for Telugu New Year, Vilambi, in his Ugadi Panchanga Sravanam in the temple on Sunday.
People would get solace by visiting the pilgrim centre and taking part in spiritual activities this year, he said. Temples would flourish and usher in happiness by performing yagna, yagam and homam. He predicted increase in hot weather conditions and average rainfall.
Earlier, special pujas were performed in the Bhramaramba Devi temple and in the yagasala.
A large number of devotees took a holy dip in Pathalaganga and had darshan of the presiding deities. The deities were taken round in a flower-bedecked chariot. The Goddess was decorated as Ramavani sevitha Raja Rajeswari Devi with the deity holding pasam , ankusam , lotus and sugarcane in the four hands.
TTD festivities
At Tirumala, festival Asthanam was conducted to the deities at the Bangaru Vakili inside the hill temple. The temple priest rendered the customary 'Panchanga Sravanam' to the processional deities of Lord Malayappa and his consorts highlighting the agriculture produce and rainfall during the year.
The temple complex was tastefully decorated with several tonnes of fruits and aromatic flowers of varied hues.
At Tirupati, Panchanga Sravanam and Ashtavadhanam were organised by the TTD at Mahati auditorium.
Obeisance to spring
Later, events like Telugu Vaitalikulu and traditional fashion show by children of TTD employees entertained the viewers.
At Sri Venkateswara Vedic University, Registrar P. Viswanath initiated the Ugadi proceedings like ‘Vasantha Aradhana’ (obeisance to spring) and Venkateswara Puja. Scholar K.T.V. Raghavan read out the Panchangam. The Rotary Club of Tirupati observed the festival in the midst of senior citizens at Ashreya Old Age Home at Thukivakam on the city outskirts.
At Ongole, Environment Minister Sidda Raghava Rao, TDP national vice-president Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, TDP MLC Karanam Balarama Krishnamurthy and Collector V.Vinay Chand were among those who attended the ‘Panchanga Sravanam’.
Felicitated
East Godavari Collector Kartikeya Misra felicitated seven people from different parts of the district who excelled in fields such as agriculture, sports and games, literature and social service during the festival celebrations.
At Rajamahendravaram, the Ugadi celebrations were held under the aegis of Mayor Pantam Rajani Seshasai, Municipal Commissioner V. Vijaya Ramaraju and Sub-Collector C.M. Saikanth Varma at the Anam Kalakendram auditorium.
