Thousands of devotees from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh converged on Srisailam on Saturday evening to participate in the Rathotsavam of the processional deities of Bhramarambha and Mallikarjuna Swamy in the Mada Streets of the temple, with every vantage point occupied for witnessing the celestial event as part of Ugadi festivities.
Witnessing, pulling or touching the specially decorated ratham (chariot) once in a year is the desire of many devotees, and they believe their problems get wiped off or unfulfilled wishes come through. The entire temple town was choc-a-block from the morning with devotees queuing up at the Ammavari Temple to have a darshan before paying obeisance to the Lord Mallikarjuna, who is a family deity for many in these States, and they adopt innovative ways to reach Srisailam either on foot or on vehicles.
For more than two hours, the rathotsavam went on with Srisailam Temple Chairman Reddivari Chakrapani Reddy and Executive Officer S. Lavanna performing special pujas for ratham and the archakas completing the rituals prior to starting the journey with processional deities.
Panchanga Pathanam
Asthana Siddhanti Panditha Butte Veerabhadra Daivagna, from Rajamahendravaram, set the tone for the festivities of Ugadi on the first day of Shubhakrutu samasram at Akkammadevi Alankaramandapam with Panchanga Pathanam.
A vibrant monsoon and a good number of cyclones were the predictions in the new panchangam, and Veerabhadra Daivagna predicted heatwaves in the coming days, but no shortfall of drinking water in the country. There was good hope for the farmers as good yields are expected based on good rains, he said.
The devotees eagerly waited for the Panchanga Sravanam (listening to what is in store for them). The temple authorities honoured the Siddhanti after panchanga pathanam with the temple anga vastram and gave prasadam.
