Colourful festivities at Peddamma Temple

The colourful festivities at the Peddamma Temple, Jubilee Hills, has been drawing huge crowds. The temple is celebrating its 20th Varshika Mahostavam and Rathotsavam and will conclude today. The shrine has been decked up beautifully with shimmering light bulbs to illuminate the night sky.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, devotees thronged the temple as early as 3am to perform pujas and abhishekams. Various pujas were held, including `Navagraha Homam,' `Rudra', `Chandi Homam', `Dikpala Bhairava Baliharanam' and `Purnahuti'. ` The prayers were followed by Annadanam.Indira Janardhan Reddy and P Vishnuvardhan Reddy, MLA, founding family members and trustees of the temple, said, “The word ‘Peddamma’, literally means 'Mother of Mothers' or ‘The Supreme Mother’. She is one of the 11 forms of village deities and is the Supreme Goddess. The temple is a must-visit during Bonalu every year. People offer prayers to the Mother round the year and the Mother bestows her blessings to the devotees to fulfil their wishes.”

The popularity of the temple grew and the turnout of the devotees has been on the rise since 1994. Vishnuvardhan Reddy said, “My father P Janardhan Reddy, former minister, was instrumental in initiating the development of this temple and the donations made by the devotees had contributed for the temple’s growth.” A Balaji, executive officer, said, “The highlight of the festival is the Radhostavam where Ustava Vigrahas are taken on a procession in a chariot. Along with it, Vedic mantras are chanted, dances are performed and crackers are burst. The auspicious day of Ratha Sapthami would literally be a feast to the eyes for thousands of devotees.”

Suneetha, a resident of Himayatnagar, said, “I have been visiting this temple along with my family for the past eight years and all our wishes have been fulfilled until now. I like the temple because it is neatly maintained.”