Sri Rama Navami celebrated grandly at Bhadradri Temple; CM unveils Rs 351-crore development works

The Sri Seetha Rama Kalyana Mahotsavam was celebrated with grandeur at Bhadrachalam’s Mithila Stadium as part of Sri Rama Navami. Thousands witnessed the rituals led by priests, with CM Revanth Reddy offering silk clothes and launching Rs 351-crore temple works.

Bhadrachalam (Kothagudem): Sri Seetha Rama Kalyana Mahotsavam was celebrated with grandeur and spiritual fervour at Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Devasthanam here on Friday.

The celestial wedding of Lord Rama and his consort Seetha Devi took place at the beautifully decorated Mithila Stadium on the premises of the temple amidst thousands of devotees as part of Sri Rama Navami celebrations.

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The rituals related to the celestial wedding were performed from 2 am to 9.30 am during which Abhishekam to mulavarulu, ‘Druvamurthula Kalyanam’ and Alankaram took place.

At around 9.30 am, Kalyanamurtulu, adorned for the occasion, were brought to Kalyana Mandapam accompanied by Mangalavadyams and the devotees performing Kolatam. The celestial wedding was performed in Abhijit lagnam, as per the tradition.

The wedding rituals held in accordance with scriptural traditions and accompanied by the chanting of Vedic mantras were led by chief priest Amaravadi Vijayaraghavan and others creating a deep spiritual atmosphere in the temple town.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy presented silk clothes and Mutyala Talambralu to the presiding deities. Silk clothes and Mutyala Talambralu were also presented by the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam, Srirangam Temple in Tamil Nadu

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Konda Surekha, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao and Vakiti Srihari took part in the celebrations. The Chief Minister performed a groundbreaking ceremony for the temple’s first phase of development works being undertaken at a cost of Rs 351 crore.

Principal Secretary (Endowments) Shailaja Ramaiyer, Endowments Commissioner Hanumantha Rao, district Collector Ankit, SP B Rohit Raj, ITDA PO B Rahul and others were present.

Meanwhile, alleged overaction by police and revenue officials led to unpleasant scenes prior to the ceremony. It was said that the on-duty police stopped the Bhadradri Temple executive officer K Damodar Rao from entering the temple. He was let in after the priests and staff protested.

Similarly, the police and a trainee IAS officer stopped a female magistrate of Khammam from entering the designated gallery even though she had a pass. The same was the case with one of the heirs of Bhakta Ramadasu, Srinivas, who had a pass but was stopped.

The police have also stopped several media personnel from entering into the media gallery even as they carried the passes issued by the local Information and Public Relations Department officials; it led to arguments between the police and media persons. The district public relations officer was reportedly admonished by the higher officials for failing to distribute media passes in a proper manner.