The celestial wedding of Lord Rama with his consort Goddess Sita was performed with religious fervour and gaiety at the Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy devasthanam in Illandakunta village on Sunday.
Thousands of devotees from far-flung places of the district and adjoining Peddapalli and Warangal districts arrived in large numbers to witness the celestial wedding. Collector Sarfaraz Ahmad presented silk vastrams to the presiding deities on the occasion and witnessed the ceremony.
Minister for Health Eatala Rajender, MLC Naradasu Laxman Rao, Zilla Parishad chairperson Tula Uma, TPCC working president Ponnam Prabhakar, Commissioner of Police V.B. Kamalasan Reddy and Joint Collector Shyam Prasad Lal were also among those who witnessed the wedding.
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It is believed that Lord Rama along with Sita and his brother Laxman visited this village during their14-year vanvas (exile period). It was here that they learnt about the death of Rama’s father, king Dasaratha. So Rama performed ‘shraadha puja’ of his father using the seeds of ‘Illanda’ tree and the village was thus named Illandakunta. It is also believed that the presiding deities at this ancient shrine were installed by Lord Rama and Sita themselves.
Meanwhile, in Sangareddy, MLA T. Jayaprakash Reddy offered pattu vastralu to the presiding deities at the Rama temple at old bus stand. Devotees from surrounding villages arrived there and participated in Rama Navami celebrations. Mr. Reddy also brought two quintals of talambralu that was distributed among devotees. At Chinnakodur, MLA T. Harish Rao participated in the religious event.
In integrated Nizamabad district, Ram Navami festival was celebrated on Sunday with the celestial wedding of Lord Rama and Sita being performed at all Rama temples. Nizamabad and Kamareddy Collectors M. Ram Mohan Rao and N. Satyanarayana, respectively, witnessed the celestial wedding and offered prayers.
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