Mega Chandi Yagam commences

Around 2,000 priests from Telangana, AP, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are taking part in the mega ‘yagam’ being performed for universal peace

Hyderabad: The much-anticipated five-day ‘Ayutha Chandi Maha Yagam’, being organised by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has begun at his farmhouse in Medak district on Wednesday morning.

Chandrashekar Rao was accorded a traditional welcome at the ‘yagashala’ when he arrived at the spot. He undertook a circumambulation of the ‘yagashala’ before performing ‘Garu Prarthana’ in front of the idol of ‘Chandi Matha’. The ‘Garu Prarthana’ marked the beginning of the ‘yagam’ rituals on the first day, according to official sources.

Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh E S L Narasimhan also took part in the puja. ‘Gou puja’, ‘Maha Mantapa Sthapanam’, ‘Chandi yantra lekhanam’, among others, formed part of the rituals on the first day. About 2,000 priests from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are taking part in the mega ‘yagam’ being performed for universal peace.

Massive arrangements have been made for the ‘yagam’ in the sprawling premises of Chandrashekar Rao's farmhouse in Erravelli village. President Pranab Mukherjee would attend the ceremony on December 27. Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Bandaru Dattatreya also will attend the event on different days, according to an official release. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would attend the ‘yagam’ on December 27, the release said. Rao had earlier said no government money was being spent for the ‘yagam’.

Meanwhile, the ‘yagam’ which the government sources said was being performed for people’s welfare, drew sharp criticism from the Opposition BJP and CPI(M) which accused him of misusing the government machinery and wasting public money.

Chandrashekar Rao dismissed the charge, claiming that no government money was being spent for the ritual. The BJP disapproved of the ‘exorbitant splurge of money and misusing government machinery for a personal event’, though the party said that it supported performing ‘yagnas and yagas’ for the larger public good.

“BJP supports yagnas and yagas for the larger good of the society. We have no issue with his personal events either. However, the exorbitant splurge of money and misusing government machinery for a personal event is unacceptable,” Telangana BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao said. “BJP demands that the expenditure involved in laying roads to Chandrashekar Rao’s farmhouse, security and logistics also be borne by the CM,” he said.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had last week said it was purely his own Yagam. “Some of my friends have come forward to support it. I am spending money from my own account. Not even a single paisa from the government will be used for it,” he earlier said.