Mahalakshmi Yagam begins on a grand note

Vijayawada: Hundreds of devotees took out a procession in the city on Thursday marking the beginning of Sri Mahalakshmi Yagam. Sri Tridandi Sriramachandra Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji of Bhashyakara Siddhantha Peeth of Bhimamavaram led the colourful procession. The Swamiji who had completed his padayatra in the city preparing devotees for the yagam, led the procession which started from the Swarajya Maidan and returned passing through the Suryaraopet, Kasturibaipet and Mogalrajapuram. The devotees chanting hymns walked through the streets as artistes from different states presented cultural programmes ahead of the procession. The slogan of Jai Govinda reverberated as the devotees walked behind the Swamiji. Lord Sri Lakshminarayana Swamy was taken on a decorated chariot pulled by horses.The yagam would be held on the Swarajya Maidan grounds for the next seven days with thousands of devotees, drawn mostly from Krishna and Guntur districts taking part. The Swamiji said that he had conducted 13 yagas in 13 districts so far and this was the 14th yagam in a row. He said that they have to conduct 16 yagas for the benefit of the society invoking the blessings of Godess Sri Mahalakshmi.