Ramanavami celebrated on grand note at Kodandarama temple

Tirupati: Sri Ramanavami celebrations were conducted on grand scale at Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple (KRT) here attracting large number of devotees to the shrine to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion marking the birth of Lord Sri Rama.

Special rituals including Abhishekam to the presiding deity Sri Rama and Snapana Thirumanjanam to the processional deities of Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Seetha and Anjaneya were performed by priests amidst chanting of hymns at Unjal mandapam at the temple.

In the evening Sri Pedda Jeeyangar presented new silks to utsava murthys in a procession on the Vimana pradakshina route and later Asthanam and Unjal Seva were performed and the idols were brought to the vahana mandapam.

Lord Rama later rode on the colourfully decorated vahanam of his devotee Hanumantha on the Mada Streets surrounding the temple. As Ramanavmi coincided with the Tamil New Year Day, large number of devotees rushed to the temple and they have to wait in long queues to have darshan. TTD made elaborate arrangements in the temple to cope with the rush of devotees on the occasion of Ramnavami.

DyEO Sridhar, AEO Thirumalaiah, Kankana Bhattar Ananda Kumar Dikshitulu, Superintendent G Ramesh, Temple inspectorRamesh and others participated. On April 15th morning Abhisekam for Seetalakshmana Sameta Lord Sri Ramachandra Utsavam Idols will be performed and the procession of pearl thalambralu on the elephant from TTD Administrative Building will be a colourful event. The grand Sitarama Kalyanam will be celebrated at night in which devotees can participate on payment of Rs750 per couple.

TTD plans to organize a grand Sri Rama Pattabhisekam on April 16. In the morning Snapana Thirumanjanam will be performed with the holy waters brought from Sri Narasimha Tirtham and Sri Rama Pattabhisekam in the evening. Later on Bangaru Thiruchi procession of Sitarama, Lakshman and Hanuman will be conducted on the Mada streets.