Hyderabad: The ‘Sita Rama Kalyanam’ was a grand affair at the Hare Krishna Golden Temple, as traditional practices ruled the roost, with chanting of Vedic hymns and rendition of 'kirtan' prayers by devotees, on the occasion of Sri Rama Navami on Thursday.
Among the festivities organised at the temple was also the ‘Sri Rama Taraka Ashtottara Homam’, a fire-based ritual that invokes the deities to ensure the wellbeing of devotees. This was followed by special speeches by religious and spiritual leaders.
Devotees who took part in the programmes were also served lunch on the premises.
The Sri Radha Govinda deity was also decorated to appear in the avatar of ‘Sri Sita Ramachandra’, decked with bright flowers, new dresses and jewellery.
In the evening, devotees performed holy ‘parikrama (pradakshina)’, a clockwise procession around the ‘Homa Kunda (the vessel used for the fire ritual)’ after catching a glimpse of the Lord Sri Sita Ramachandra deities. The festivities ended with a ‘Maha Mangala Arathi’.
Temple officials, explaining the significance of the day, said that Sri Rama Navami falls on the 'Chaitra Shukla Navami' of the Hindu calendar. Lord Rama is revered as the supreme personality, setting benchmarks for an ideal king, as well as heading the avatars of Lord Vishnu.
“He ruled his kingdom just like a father and ensured that citizens are taken care of nicely so much so that no citizen is harassed by disease, calamity or untimely death,” an expert said.
