Grandeur marks Sitarama kalyanam

Grandeur marked the ‘kalyanam’ of Lord Rama and Sita in various temples of the city on Sri Rama Navami day on Sunday.

Prior to the celestial wedding, the idols of Lord Rama and Sita were given bath with assorted aromatic liquids and smeared with turmeric paste. Later, the deities were decked up with silk robes and strings of floral garlands in various hues. The grand ‘kalyanam’ included rituals such as placing of jeelakarra-bellam on the head, mutyala talambralu, and kanyadanam.

Sounds of bells reverberated Sri Sita Rama Swami temple at Chengalraopeta, one of the oldest in the city, as the festival was celebrated with devotional fervour. On Wednesday, the temple committee plans to conduct ‘Paduka Pattabhisheka Mahotsavam’.

An air of festivity pervaded the city as scores of devotees thronged temples to offer prayers and savour panakam (jaggery syrup) and vada pappu (dish made of soaked moong dal).

Elaborate arrangements were made at Ramalayam located at Ambikabagh as devotees witnessed Sita Rama kalyanam performed with religious fervour.

Special pujas

Special pujas and wedding rituals marked the festivities at Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham and ISKCON-Sagarnagar. Recital of Vedic chants, pallaki seva, bhajans, uyyala (swing) utsavam and mangala aarti formed part of ‘Sri Sita Ramula Kalyana Mahotsavam’ celebrated by Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samiti at Sri Sathya Sai Prema Sadan Mandir.

It was not just Lord Rama temples that reverberated with Vedic chants, Hanuman temples in Isukathota junction, Thatichetlapalem, Seethammadhara and Gajuwaka too echoed with devotional hymns in wee hours.

While a majority of temples celebrated Sri Rama Navami on Sunday, some plan to celebrate it on Monday. Sri Rama Navami Mahotsavam begins at Shirdi Sai Baba Spiritual Temple on Monday. As a part of it, Sri Sita Ramula Kalyanam will be held at 10 a.m. followed by the procession of Sai Baba. The State government declared Sri Rama Navami holiday on Monday.

Pandals were erected in parts of NAD Kotha Road and some of the open areas and apartment complexes in various neighbourhoods were converted into a temporary place of worship as the residents organised devotional programmes.