Lord Rama’s Pattabhishekam (coronation ceremony) was held at the 17th Century Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy shrine in Bhadrachalam on Monday amid royal pageantry and pomp.
An aura of spiritual exaltation filled the air at the Mithila Pranganam abutting the temple complex during the glittering ceremony that lasted more than two hours.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and his wife Vimala were among those who attended the ceremony. Earlier, the processional idols of Lord Rama, His consort Sita and brother Lakshmana were seated on the richly decorated throne at the flower bedecked mandapam.
Even as the priests adorned Lord Rama with Khadgam, Racha Mudrika, Padukalu and a host of glittering ornaments, several enthusiastic devotees snapped the pictures of the deity in an atmosphere enlivened with majestic aura.
The grand ceremony concluded with the kirita dharana event in which the priests adorned Lord Rama with a glistening crown.
Collector Rajat Kumar Saini and Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt monitored the arrangements at the enclosures inside the Mithila Pranganam. Tight security arrangements were made at the temple complex and elsewhere in the town.
Volunteers of several non-governmental and spiritual organisations distributed water and buttermilk sachets at the venue in view of heat wave conditions.