Sri Rama Navami, the celestial wedding of Lord Rama with his consort Goddess Seetha, was performed in a grand manner in the presence of huge congregation of devotees at Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Devasthanam in Vemulawada on Sunday.
Devotees thronged the temple in large numbers since Saturday night and occupied each available space in the town. They took holy dip in the dharmagundam (tank) and decorated as brides of Lord Shiva by applying turmeric and vermillion and jaggery and jeera paste on their heads and carried trident (trishul), the tool of Shiva and witnessed the celestial wedding.
The wedding was performed under the supervision of main priest Goppannagari Shankaraiah and others priests. Temple EO D. Rajeshwar couple and Nagara panchayat Chairperson Namala Uma couple presented silk vastrams to the deities. The transgenders, who also attended the celestial wedding, presented silk vastrams.
Devotees including transgenders, who donned as brides of Lord Shiva, declared themselves as married to Lord Shiva after sprinkling “thalambralu” on the idols of Lord Rama and Seetha during the celestial wedding. The transgenders were seen pouring thalambralu on each other as part of the marriage ritual.
The temple authorities installed LED televisions for the benefit of pilgrims who were far away from the main venue to witness the celestial wedding.
