BHADRACHALAM: Lakhs of devotees witnessed the divine wedding of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita at Mithila Stadium here on Sunday on the occasion of Sri Rama Navami. Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy along with his wife presented Mutyala Talambralu to the presiding deities of Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple on behalf of the state government as per tradition.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju and his wife presented silk clothes to the divine couple on behalf of the TTD. Sacred clothes were also presented to the divine couple on behalf of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamy and Sri Jayendra Saraswathi of Kanchi.
Mangalasutra Dharana was held at 12 noon in Abhijit Lagnam amid chanting of Vedic hymns by the temple priests. After the divine wedding, the idols of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita were taken in a procession in the temple town. Ministers C Ramachandraiah, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Ramreddy Venkat Reddy,
Pasupuleti Balaraju, Assembly deputy speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, chief whip Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy, MP Balaram Naik, MLAs Kunja Satyavati, Mitrasena, R Kantha Rao, Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, MLCs Balasani Lakshmi Narayana, Rudraraju, Shiva Reddy, endowments commissioner P Balaramaiah and others witnessed the celestial wedding.
The temple authorities made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of Sitarama Kalyanam. Lakhs of devotees took a holy dip in the Godavari river before worshipping Lord Rama and Goddess Sita.
As many as 18 Kalyana Talambralu counters, five Prasadam counters, eight centres for temporary accommodation, six cloakrooms, 11 first aid centres and 12 information centres were set up in the temple town for the convenience of devotees. A 2,500-strong police force was deployed in the temple town to thwart any untoward incident.
About 50 quintals of Talambralu and two lakh Laddus were distributed to the devotees who attended the wedding.
Khammam collector Siddharth Jain, SP Hari Kumar, Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple Trust Board chairman KP Ranga Rao, executive officer Ch Badri Narayanacharyulu and sub-collector Hari Kiran oversaw the arrangements for the annual festival.