Rama Navami celebrated with a difference in Vemulawada

Besides the marriage of Rama and Seeta, the wedding of Joginis, Shiva-Parvathulu, transwomen, Hijras and brides of Lord Shiva with the presiding deity was also held. Considering themselves as brides of Lord Shiva, they attired themselves in new clothes especially saris, jewelry, applying turmeric on their faces and vermilion on foreheads.

Rajanna-Sircilla: The celestial wedding of Lord Rama and Goddess Seetha was celebrated with a difference and on a grand scale in the ancient Sri Rajarajeshwara Swamy temple, Vemulawada on Sunday.

Besides the marriage of Rama and Seeta, the wedding of Joginis, Shiva-Parvathulu, transwomen, Hijras and brides of Lord Shiva with the presiding deity was also held. Considering themselves as brides of Lord Shiva, they attired themselves in new clothes especially saris, jewelry, applying turmeric on their faces and vermilion on foreheads.

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Besides ‘jhola’ (sling bag) containing ‘thalambralu’ (rice mixed with turmeric), Trishul (tridents), which were also decorated with bright flowers and a bell, were also carried by them. During the marriage rituals, the devotees shook tridents tied with bells to make a rhythmic sound as the wedding was performed amid chanting of Vedic hymns. When the marriage ritual of Lord Rama and Seetha was declared completed by the temple priests, they sprinkled the ‘thalambralu’ on each other and declared their marriage with Lord Shiva by applying ‘zilakara bellam’ (jaggery and jeera paste) on their heads before tying a yellow thread carrying ‘rudraksha’ around their necks. The ceremony is called ‘Linga Dharana’.

On the other hand, local MLA and government whip Adi Srinivas along with temple EO Vinod Reddy presented ‘silk cloths’ and ‘mutyala thalambralu’ for the wedding of Rama and Seetha on behalf of the State government. Superintendent of Police Mahesh B Gite, Vemulawada ASP Sheshadrini Reddy and other officials participated in the wedding ceremony.

A huge number of devotees from different parts of the State as well as adjacent States such as Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh thronged the Vemulawada shrine to watch the wedding ceremony. Temple authorities made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of devotees. Big LED screens were also arranged in different places of the temple town to help the devotees to watch the wedding ceremony.