Bifurcation hits temple tourism

Devotee turnout from AP at Bhadradri dwindles

Khammam: The impact of State bifurcation on temple tourism in Telangana was very much on expected lines. The low turnout of devotees from Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts at the Srirama Navami and Lord’s Maha Pattabhisheka Mahotsavam festivities in Bhadrachalam indicated that the State division had left an invisible barrier between the people of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

The experience of the Bhadradri darshan has got many dimensions in the hearts of devotees. When it comes to the two mega spectacles – the celestial wedding of Lord Rama and Sita on Srirama Navami and Vaikunta Ekadasi – it was even more.Going by the attendance at Bhadrachalam on Saturday and Sunday, the patronage of Telugu-speaking people from the other side of the border was expected to diminish further in the years to come.

Compared to previous years’ attendance, the devotee influx in the last couple of days was sparse. In the local circles, it was widely believed that the essence of people’s passion and patronage from the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, especially from the twin Godavari districts, would not be the same as in the past at the events of Bhadradri.

With Andhra Pradesh government deciding to perform the celestial wedding of Lord Sri Rama at Vontimitta temple in Kadapa district, it seemed that a feeling in the people of Andhra Pradesh appeared to have cropped up that Bhadrachalam was now part of another State.

In fact, the temple had been witnessing a drop in the number of devotees for the past couple of years for both the mega events – Srirama Navami and Vaikunta Ekadasi.When The Hans India contacted a few devotees from the Godavari districts, they admitted that the bifurcation had affected some of the devotees to stay away from the mega event.

“Problems such as lack of coordination between the temple authorities and a vertical split in the priests have made the running of the temple worse in the absence of temple committee since 2012,” a local shopkeeper Veerabhadram said, pointing to the failure of the temple administration in providing basic amenities.

The troubles of the pilgrims were many and the assurances on the part of the authorities to improve their lot remained only in rhetoric, he added. “It appeared that devotee patronage from Godavari districts, which forms a huge chunk of presence during the Srirama Navami celebrations, has declined.

The ongoing SSC examinations also hay have had their impact,” Bhadrachalam Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) R Anjaiah said, referring to the low turnout of devotees at the event.Stating that the occupancy rate declined to 67 per cent, Bhadrachalam RTC Depot Manager said: “The revenue earned by the depot was about Rs 15 lakh this year as against Rs 19 lakh last year for the Srirama Navami.”

The State bifurcation had its impact on temple tourism in Telangana. The impact reflected in the low turnout of devotees from Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts at the Srirama Navami and Lord’s Maha Pattabhisheka Mahotsavam festivities in Bhadrachalam. It thus indicated that the State division had left an invisible barrier between the people of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The experience of the Bhadradri darshan has got many dimensions in the hearts of devotees.

When it comes to the two mega spectacles the celestial wedding of Lord Rama and Sita on Srirama Navami and Vaikunta Ekadasi it was even more. Going by the attendance at Bhadrachalam on Saturday and Sunday, the patronage of Telugu-speaking people from the other side of the border was expected to diminish further in the years to come.

By Adepu Mahender