All set for holy dip in Godavari
Even as the clouds played truant right through the day, it was hot and humid in Bhadrachalam, the abode of Lord Sita Ramachandra Swamy, on the eve of Godavari Pushkaralu, billed as the biggest religious crowd-pulling event perhaps in the history of Telangana State.
Bhadrachalam (Khammam): Even as the clouds played truant right through the day, it was hot and humid in Bhadrachalam, the abode of Lord Sita Ramachandra Swamy, on the eve of Godavari Pushkaralu, billed as the biggest religious crowd-pulling event perhaps in the history of Telangana State.
The administration is on its toes fearing that rain may play the spoilsport at the 11th hour affecting their efforts in setting things right to provide utmost comfort to the Pushkar pilgrims, who already started to descend on Bhadradri, also known as the Dakshin Ayodhya.
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The temple town, which wore a festive look, appeared even more scintillating with hugely decorated streets and colourful lights all over the temple town. With tourists flocking them, all the shops were abuzz making a brisk business.The most important event of the day was the appearance of Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji. The seer, who was accorded full temple honours (Purnakumbha welcome) by the temple authorities, performed puja at the sanctum sanctorum.
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The seer, who was apprised of the rituals by the temple priests, presented the Pattu Vastram (silk robes) to the presiding deities Lord Rama and His Consorts. Later, he gave a discourse to the devotees explaining the significance and the sacredness of the Godavari Pushkaralu, once-in-a-12-year mega event.
The seer will formally commence the Pushkaralu at 6.26 am Tuesday, the time when Jupiter enters Leo, after performing special rituals in Godavari river. Special officer for Pushkaralu Aravind Kumar and the district collector K Ilambarthi said they had ensured all the arrangements were in place. The officials advised the pilgrims not to carry too much of luggage with them.
“The administration has made arrangements to disseminate the information about the crowd dynamics flowing in for all the nine Pushkar ghats in the districts. It would help the pilgrims to go to the ghats where crowd is less,” the officials said. Meanwhile, it’s learnt that the temporary pandals erected at Sarapaka for the Sadhus to conduct yagam was uprooted by heavy winds in the evening.
By:Adepu Mahender
