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Float festival sets tone for Mukkoti darshan at Bhadradri
As the engines of the flower-decked Hamsavahanam carrying the deities of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana with Hanuman revved to life in the stock-still waters of the river Godavari, the other side of the riverbank erupted into a roar of firecrackers lighting up the fading sky and signaling the start of annual Teppotsavam (float festival) of Bhadradri.
Bhadrachalam: As the engines of the flower-decked Hamsavahanam carrying the deities of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana with Hanuman revved to life in the stock-still waters of the river Godavari, the other side of the riverbank erupted into a roar of firecrackers lighting up the fading sky and signaling the start of annual Teppotsavam (float festival) of Bhadradri.
Bedazzling in colorful illuminated serial lights, Bhadradri, the hillock on which Bhadra Maharshi did penance ages ago, has on Sunday witnessed a hectic religious activity - Suprabhata Seva, Aradhana, Abhishekam, Archana, Tirumangai Alvar Paramapadotsavam and Darbar Seva from 4 am – a prelude to the evening’s mega spectacle Teppotsavam.
As the chanting of ‘Jai Sri Ram’ rented the air, thousands of devotees, who congregated on either side of the riverbank, the priests and the temple authorities took the Lord and His Consorts to the Hamsavahanam in a procession. After an hour of celestial cruise in the holy Godavari, the Lord and His Consorts were taken back to the temple in a palanquin to mark the end of float festival.
Outside the shrine precincts, the devotee buzz across the temple town appeared moderate showing signs of declining patronage to the festivity compared to previous years. Devotees also thronged Parnasala temple where Lord Rama believed to have constructed a hermitage during his exile and spent some time with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana.
Meanwhile, the district administration has deployed 40 ace swimmers and 15 rescue boats for the safety of devotees. A couple of fire tenders were also stationed besides the river bank. This apart, the health officials led by Bhadrachalam division Food Inspector Venkataramana conducted raids on several hotels and roadside food courts and warned them of stringent actions if they supply stale food to pilgrims.
District Collector DS Lokesh Kumar and the Superintendent of Police Shaw Nawaz Qasim were prominent among others present at the festival. Over 1,000 police personnel were put on bandobust, besides keeping a 24-hour surveillance through CCTV cameras set up at all vantage points. Meanwhile, the stage is set for the grandeur of Uttara Dwara Darshanam at 5am on Monday.
By Adepu Mahender
