Thousands witness celestial wedding

• CM, 6 Ministers attend Sitarama kalyanam at Bhadrachalam
• CM presents Muthyala A Thalambralu on behalf of State govt
• Silk clothes brought by TTD Chairman K Bapiraju

Bhadrachalam: Thousands of devotees from all over the state witnessed the spectacular Sitarama Kalyanam, the celestial weeding of Lord Rama with Goddess Sita, with gaiety and religious fervor on Friday at the temple town. The temple priests brought the idols of the celestial couple in a procession at 10 am to the Mithila stadium and the marriage rituals began at 10.30 am culminated when Srirama tied the celestial knot at 12.00 pm. The Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy who came by helicopter from the state capital first performed special pujas at the temple and later presented 'Muthyala Thalambralu' and silk cloths to the presiding deities, a practice initiated by Bhakta Ramadas in the 17 century. The TTD Chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju presented silk cloths to the celestial couple on behalf of Lord Venkateswara. Ministers C Ramachandraiah, Ramreddy Venkatreddy, Pithani Satyanarayana, Pasupuleti Bala Raju, Union Ministers Balaram Naik and Killi Krupa Rani attended the celestial wedding.

The authorities heaved a sigh of relief as the festivities went off well without any major mishap. The authorities made available one and lakh packets of 'thalambralu' and one-lakh packets of prasadam for the devotees. In spite of precautionary measures one young man identified as Rajesh from East Godavari district died while taking a bath in the river Godavari in Bhadrachalam.

Dy Speaker alleges breach of protocol Bhadrachalam: There was a minor commotion when police stopped the convoy of vehicles of Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and district in-charge Minister Pasupuleti Balaraju on the way to the temple here on Friday. The Deputy Speaker lashed out at the police for ignoring protocol and threatened to complain to the Speaker, Chief Minister and Chief Secretary against the behavior of the police.