Thousands participate in 'Kumbhabhishekam'

Visakhapatnam: The Ramakrishna Beach road wore a festive look with thousands of devotees thronging the area where the Rajya Sabha member Dr T Subbarami Reddy performed 28th 'Maha Kumbhabhishekam' on Maha Sivaratri on Sunday. Dr TSR Seva Peetham made elaborate arrangements, including setting up of huge pandals, drinking water facility, distribution of free 'prasadam' and day-long devotional orchestra programme under the direction of music director Saluru Vasu Rao. After performing Veerabhadra Swami puja at his residence in the morning, Dr TSR reached the Beach at 9.28 am and began 'Kumbhabhishekam' to 1.08 crore Siva Lingas amid chanting of Vedic hymns, the first of its kind in the country. The Ritwicks performed 'Ekantaseva' at 1 pm and 'kalyanam' at 3 pm followed by 'homam' and 'Purnahuti' at 4.30 pm. Unlike in other Siva temples, the TSR Seva Peetham facilitated devotees in performing 'Jalabhishekam' on their own in the presence of Dr TSR. Women and children outnumbered men at the festival. Vasu Rao's orchestra was the cynosure of the festival. Devotional songs on Lord Siva were sung by AIR and DD artiste Prasanna Lakshmi, BA Narayana. Manisha Devi from Rajahmundry and 'Vizag' Bhagavathi rendered solo and duet songs. The event was arranged at a specially erected stage with a huge Siva Linga. Veteran film director 'Kala Tapasvi' Dr K Viswanath witnessed the event for an hour braving hot sun. Visakha Sri Sarada Peethadhipathi Swaroopanandendra Saraswathi visited the 'Kumbhabhishekam' venue and blessed the devotees. Later, Tribal Welfare Minister P Balaraju, Government Whip Dronamraju Srinivas, MLA Dr Malla Vijay Prasad, former MLAs Karri Sitaram and Tippala Gurumurthy Reddy, Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Prof. GSN Raju, former Mayor P Janardhana Rao, actresses Vanisri and Punam Kaur and former corporators visited the venue and performed 'abhishekam'. Devotees were seen in serpentine queues since morning. The police made elaborate arrangements on the Beach road and regulated the vehicular traffic. A 90-minute 'Sivathandavam' with 34 artistes was organised at the spiritual meet on Sunday evening. It was scheduled to felicitate cine director Bapu with title 'Viswa Vikhyata Darsaka Maharshi'. However, he could not attend. Former APCC chief D Srinivas, Rajahmundry MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar, actor Mohanbabu, actress Vanisri, former MP Dr Y Lakshmi Prasad, comedian Brahmanandam, director Dr K Viswanath, Government Whip Dronamraju Srinivas, MLAs Tynala Vijay Kumar and UV Ramanamurty Raju (Kannababu) and former Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao were present. A large number of people attended.