Religious fervour marks ‘Varalakshmi vratam’

Women participate in large numbers in the ‘Varalakshmi vratam’ at Varadaraja Swamy temple in Srikalahasti on Friday.

The auspicious ‘Varalakshmi vratam’ was observed with religious fervour and gaiety at Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple in Tiruchanur here on Friday.

While local as well as pilgrim rush peaks generally on Fridays, the occurrence of ‘Varalakshmi vratam’ made the place burst at the seams. As part of the festival, suprabhatham, sahasrarchana, nityarchana and abhishekam were performed in the morning and later the processional deity of the goddess was brought to the ‘Asthana Mandapam’ for various rituals.

Celebrating the vratam in traditional style as the ‘festival of prosperity’, temple priest P. Srinivasan narrated the legend as glorified in Skanda Puranam.

Acting Chief Justice of High Court Ramesh Ranganathan, TTD Chairman Chadalawada Krishnamurthy and Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao, board members Suchitra Ella, G. Bhanuprakash Reddy, legislator M. Sugunamma and Joint Executive Officer Pola Bhaskar participated in the event.

In the evening, the deity was taken around on golden chariot on the four Mada streets.

In view of the festival, abhisheka anantara darshan, Lakshmi puja, kalyanotsavam, kumkumarchana and unjal seva remained suspended for the day.