Srirama Navami celebrated with devotion

Eluru: Pomp and devotion marked Sitarama kalyanam festivities all over West Godavari district on Friday. Eluru range DIG Suryaprakasa Rao couple inaugurated the celebrations at Dasanjaneya Swamy Kovela here. Hundreds of police families took part in the event.

The wedding was preceded by traditional offering of the mixture of cumin seeds and jaggery to the deities. The DIG couple showered pearls (talambralu) to mark completion of Sitarama kalyanam amid playing of mangalavadyams. Speaking on the occasion, Suryaprakasa Rao said that human life would be meaningful when one extends help to the needy.

The message of Sriramanavami is universal brotherhood. The kalyanam celebrated in makeshift tents with participation of all sections of people everywhere was best example for communal harmony, he said.

Superintendent of Police Ramesh and District Additional Judge Lakshminarayana along with spouses attended the function. Additional Superintendent of Police Naga Venkata Satyanarayana, DSP Rajani, Circle Inspectors Murali Krishna and Vijay Paul were among others who graced the occasion.

At Ameenapet, thousands of devotees thronged Kodanda Ramalayam to witness the celestial wedding. Temple committee chairman Makineni Venkateswara Rao supervised the arrangements.

On the lines of Bhadrachalam Ongole: The Anjaneya Swamy temple at Santapet wore a festive look on Friday. Prominent personalities of the town were among thousands who watched the kalyanam held on the lines of the one performed at the famous Bhadrachalam temple in Khammam district.

Kalyanam at Donga Ramudi Gudi Tenali (Guntur): Traditional tents of palm leaves were erected for the convenience of devotees to watch the celestial wedding at different places of the town. The temples were decorated with colourful lights. Scores of devotees rushed to Seetaramanjaneya Devasthanam, popularly known as Donga Ramudi Gudi, to participate in the kalyanam celebrations. Devotees believe that witnessing the wedding at this temple would add to their good deeds. Devotees from far off places came to the temple considered as second Bhadradri.

The celebrations began in the morning with Nityahomam followed by Gramabaliharana. The deities were taken out in Garudavahanam and Gajavahanam as part of Yedurukolu Vutsavam (welcome ceremony) before the celestial wedding held on a grand note.

At Chinna Bhadrachalam

Dwaraka Tirumala (West Godavari district): The celestial wedding of Rama and Sita was celebrated at Toorpu Yadavalli temple near here on Friday.

The village has become popular as Chinna Bhadrachalam as thousands of devotees visit the temple and offer prayers. Being closer to Dwaraka Tirumala, devotees who visit the Venkateswara Swamy temple also visit Sirama temple at Toorpu Yadavalli village and offer prayers to the Lord. The resting pose of Rama at the temple is akin to Bhadrachalam deity and thus became famous.

The presence of a number of idols depicting the essence of Ramayana has made it popular among devotees. As the temple has become old and dilapidated, people have renovated the temple in the recent past. The villagers want the government to take over the temple and develop it.

20,000 litres butter milk distributed Gudivada (Krishna): On the eve of Srirama Navami, Additional District Judge PV Ramanarayulu and Judicial First Class Magistrate P Ramana Reddy along with their spouses have conducted the celestial marriage ceremony of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita at the Court Ramalayam situated at Anjaneyepet here.

At Moturu Sri Sitaramaswamy temple, Adi Milk Centre distributed 20,000 litres of butter milk to the devotees to provide them relief from the scorching summer heat.

The celestial marriage was conducted at many temples in the town in a grand manner. Scores of devotees thronged temples to witness the ceremony.

Velama Seva Samithi The Velma Seva Samithi has organised Srirama Navami celebrations in a grand manner at Sri Hanumath Sitaramalayam, situated near Gautam Buddha hostel. BC Welfare Association district convener Gongada Haribabu, noted doctor G Satyanarayana and Doctor Swarnakumari along with their spouses have conducted the celestial marriage of Lord Rama and Goddess Sitadevi.