Fervour marks Rama Navami

Visakhapatnam: Devotees turned up at Rama temples in the city from early in the morning to offer prayers on Rama Navami here on Friday.

Sitarama Kalyanam was celebrated at the Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple at Ambika Baugh. As many as 5,000 devotees witnessed the event. The celestial wedding was conducted at the Sitaramaswamy temples in Chengalarao Peta, Waltair Road and Sri Sathya Sai Mandir in the presence of a large number of devotees.

At the Sri Sathya Sai Prema Sadan Mandir, renowned scholar Prof. Kolavennu Malayavasini explained the uniqueness and importance of Ramayanam. "The historical characters of Sita and Rama stand as role models for everybody to follow in their life. They depict human values which need to be practiced in today’s life,” she said.

Later in the evening, the City Seva Samiti took out a procession where hundreds of devotees participated. Many people offered haarathi on the roads to the idols of Rama and Sita. The local prison also celebrated the festival. Cultural programmes, religious discourse and plays were organised to depict the life of Rama and Sita.

In Vizianagaram, thousands of people witnessed the celestial wedding at the historic Lord Sri Ram temple at Ramatheertham. Endowment minister Pydikondala Manikyala Rao offered silk robes at the temple on behalf of the government.

The devotees witnessed the Aaradhana at 3 am, followed by decking up the main deity and other programmes by 6 am. The authorities had prepared the stage for the Sita Rama Kalyanothsavam near the temple premises, which started at 10.30 am. The Simhachalam devasthanam authorities presented the Pattu vasthralu.  

On Saturday, Sri Ramachandra Pattabhishekam would be conducted at 11.30 am. The authorities are expecting over 40,000 devotees from coastal AP, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and even Madhya Pradesh. “Queue barricades have been put up. Considering the heat wave, we have taken precautions and arranging water packets and butter milk,” a temple official said.