The bustling Besant Road, the nerve centre for the city’s commercial activity, is all set for Lord Rama’s annual celestial wedding at the famous Ramalayam, a tradition which is being continued for 57 years. The festival, which commences on Friday, will conclude on April 23.
The tiny temple was built by the trading community in 1959 and since then Sri Ramanavami is being celebrated in a grand manner. “The idols were installed in 1978,” says temple priest.
“We have around 300 traders as members and with their contributions we are conducting the festivities in a befitting manner. With both Chandana Brothers and MVR Shopping Mall entering Besant Road this year, we have more donors now,” says N. Bhanu Murthy, president of Seetharama Kalyana Mahotsava Abhivirdhi Committee on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said as many as six kilograms of pearls will be used as ‘talambralu,’ a tradition which is followed at Bhadrachalam.
65 kg laddu
He said for nine days poor-feeding would be taken up for 1,500 people daily and a massive 65 kg laddu by Sweet Magic will be presented as ‘prasadam’.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Five decades ago, Besant Road had just 30-odd shops with business turnover in thousands. Now we have hundreds of shops and business worth crores are taking place. Majority of the traders and businessman start their daily chores after offering prayers at the temple,” said Pothina Ram Prasad, secretary. He said a specially decorated stage is being installed in which ‘panchaloha’ idols, presented by Jaladi Suguna, will be kept for daily rituals.On Friday, M. Prasad Babu and Naga Satya Kumari will perform the celestial wedding. Before the wedding, the idols will be taken out in a procession on the streets of the city amidst music in which several donors and devotees would take part.
On April 24, the coronation (Pattabhishekam) of Lord Rama will be held in the afternoon followed by “Pavalimpu seva” at night. Central MLA Bonda Uma Mahweswara Rao will be the chief guest for the Friday festivities.