The ancient Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple at Vontimitta in Kadapa district will be developed with Rs. 25 crore, Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy said on Saturday.
The Deputy Chief Minister presented silk clothes and ‘Mutayala Talambralu’ on behalf of the State government to the presiding deities in Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple Brahmotsavam and participated in Dhwajarohanam performed by Vedic priests. Mr. Krishnamurthy and his wife Padmavatamma, who were welcomed with ‘poornakumbham’, performed pooja as part of the Sri Rama Navami festival.
Stating that the Vontimitta temple gained prominence with the government’s decision to perform Brahmotsavams with official honours, he hoped it would develop on par with the temple in Bhadrachalam in future. The government would take steps to develop temples located between Tirumala and Kadapa district. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu would attend Sri Seetharama kalyanam slated at Vontimitta on April 2 night. All necessary facilities and improvements would be dome by Sri Rama Navami next year, as full-fledged facilities could not be provided now due to paucity of time, Mr. Krishnamurthy said. Vedic pandits presented a portrait of Sri Kodandarama Swamy to the Deputy Chief Minister.
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Minister for Health Kamineni Srinivas, Deputy Chairman of A.P. Legislative Council S.V. Satish Kumar Reddy, Rajya Sabha member C.M. Ramesh Naidu, Government Whip M. Mallikarjuna Reddy, Endowments Commissioner Anuradha, Collector K.V. Ramana, Superintendent of Police Navin Gulati, Joint Collector M. Rama Rao, other public representatives, leaders and officials participated.
A large number of devotees lined up to have darshan of the deities.