Celestial Wedding of Lord Rama at Bhadrachalam: No entry for devotees

Khammam: The question haunting the devotees ever since coronavirus scare hit the State has come true on Tuesday with the Telangana State Government deciding to make the celestial wedding of Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam at Bhadrachalam a low-key event.

Minster for Transport Puvvada Ajay Kumar, speaking to media, has appealed to public not to make arrangements to attend the celestial wedding in view of coronavirus scare.

The Government has taken all the measures to minimise the spread the coronavirus in the State by ordering closure of schools, colleges, parks, wine shops, bars and other public places.

However, the celestial wedding will be conducted as usual in the temple premises as per the traditions. But devotees will not be allowed to witness the wedding programme, said the Transport Minister.

The Tirumala-Tirupati Devastanams had already announced that the Ramanavami celebrations at Vontimatta have been cancelled in view of coronavirus.

Bhadrachalam temple Executive Officer G Narasimham informed that the temple will conduct celebrations as per the orders of the government.

Though the preparations are ready, the temple administration will discuss with the archakas on how to go about it, he said.

Sri Rama Navami is scheduled on April 2 and Coronation of Sri Rama on April 3. Out of the 18,000 tickets, only 1,090 tickets were sold to the devotees online. The temple will return online ticket fare to the devotees, the EO said.

Since 1960, the Kalyanam is being conducted on a grand note with huge public gathering at the Mithila stadium. A devotee T Shyam Sunder said that this is the first time in the history of the Bhadrachalam temple that public participation is not being allowed.

The Annual Bramothsavalu will begin on March 24. As part of the Bramothsavalu the main event which is the celestial wedding will be held on April 2 and the coronation ceremony will be conducted the following day in grand manner.