Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has agreed in principle to perform the brahmotsavam in the 450-year-old Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple at Vontimitta in Rajampet constituency in Kadapa district in March on behalf of the Government.
Mr. Naidu signed the relevant file and orders to this effect will be issued within a couple of days, according to Government Whip Meda Mallikarjuna Reddy. The Chief Minister would bring silk clothes and “mutyala thalambralu” and attend the celestial wedding slated on March 28 night, Mr. Reddy said.
It was a practice for the Government to perform Sri Rama Navami celebrations at the historic Bhadrachalam temple, but as the temple was now in Telangana, the Telugu Desam Party Government took the decision to do so in Vontimitta temple, constructed during the Chola and Vijayanagara empire, about 26 kms. from Kadapa.
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Amidst reports that the Government was keen on performing Sri Rama Navami celebrations with official honours at Ramatheertham in Vijayanagaram, leaders of all the political parties, several organisations and literary personalities demanded priority to the Vontimitta temple. Mr. Mallikarjuna Reddy described it as a major sop for Rajampet constituency, represented by him.
People of Vontimitta burst crackers welcoming the Government’s decision. The Government Whip, Deputy Chairman of A.P. Legislative Council S.V. Satish Kumar Reddy, Rajya Sabha member C.M. Ramesh Naidu, Opposition leader in A.P. Legislative Council C. Ramachandraiah and district presidents and secretaries of all the political parties had urged the Government to celebrate Sri Kondarama Swamy temple brahmotsavams on behalf of the Government.