Fervour marks Sirimanotsavam

Visakhapatnam: Religious fervour marked the annual Sirimanotsavam of presiding deity of Vizianagaram town Sri Pydithalli Ammavaru, the biggest folk festival in North coastal Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. Over two lakh devotees from various parts of North Andhra — Vizag, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts — and neighbouring Odisha and Chhattisgarh visited Vizianagaram to seek the blessings of the presiding deity.

Hereditary trustee of the Pydithalli Ammavaru temple and Vizianagaram MP Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju offered prayers to the deity along with his family members in the morning session. They took part in the traditional rituals and also watched the Sirimanotsavam in the evening.

As per the schedule, the procession of Sirimanu started at around 3.50 pm with the Chaduru Gudi of Pydithalli and moved slowly towards the fort.

Bantupalli Venkata Rao, the chief priest of temple was seated on top of a long wooden log (Sirimanu) and paraded from the temple to the fort three times before being returned to the temple.

The devotees believe that the priest is possessed and threw bananas at him. The entire ritual was completed by 5.10 pm.

The Vizianagaram police pressed into service drones for surveillance before and during the Sirimanotsavam on Tuesday. Over 2,000 police personnel were deployed at various places to prevent any untoward incident and ensure smooth conduct of the event. Lakhs of devotees occupied every available space along the road and every rooftop in the fort city. They stayed put till the end of the Sirimanotsavam.

Traditionally, the festival is conducted on the first Tuesday after Dasara. Compared to last year, the turnout of devotees this year was lower, said the district administration.

YSR Congress leaders Botsa Satyanarayana and others and several TD MLAs and ministers witnessed the rituals. Puliveshaalu, Kolatam and other folk art forms added colour to the celebrations.