Abandoned long ago, the Seeta Rama Lakshmana temple here, however, sees feverous activity on Sri Ramanavani every year.
Residents from the village located 2 km away, continue the tradition of performing the rituals every year on the festival day. People carry water drums on bullock carts and other material as part of making arrangements for the puja.
The Seeta Rama Lakshmana temple at Itikepally village in Medak district was abandoned when Singur project was built and a major part of the village was submerged. The 3,000-odd residents moved to a new village some two kilometres away from the place. However, they kept alive the tradition of celebrating Ramanavami in the old temple. Another reason being, no temple was constructed in the new village till now.
A part of the temple has already fallen to pieces a few years ago, and even some bushes have grown alongside. Many of the houses near the temple have collapsed, while some still having roofs with tree branches coming out of it.
“Despite our repeated appeals, the government has not sanctioned any land for the construction of a Rama temple at our new village. A part of the old village comes out of water during summer when the water level in Singur decreases and we come here to celebrate the festival,” said Pandari, who was busy in arrangements at the temple.
