VISAKHAPATNAM : Sirimanotsavam, the annual festival of the presiding deity of Vizianagaram Sri Pydithalli Ammavaru, was celebrated with gaiety and religious fervour Tuesday. For the first time, over three lakh people thronged the Fort town and witnessed the procession of Sirimanotsavam. Temple priest T Bhaskara Rao sat on the specially made chair fixed atop the 55-foot-long wooden log (sirimanu) which in turn was fixed to a chariot. As per the ritual, the procession was taken out thrice from the Three Lanterns Junction to the Fort Junction. The specially decorated Paaladhara and Anjali Rathams (small chariots) led the procession. Thousands of devotees from across AP, Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgargh landed in Vizianagaram and stood in queue that stretched to 3 km. Though there was a huge rush, a large posse of police stood guard, ensuring that the entire event passes off peacefully. The district administration erected iron barricades on both sides of the routes of the procession.
The procession started as per schedule at 4.30 pm and concluded at 5.45 pm. Union Minister for Civil Aviation and temple trustee P Ashok Gajapathi Raju and family members of the Vizianagaram Samsthan offered special rituals to Ammavaru. From the State Government, Endowments minister P Manikyalarao was present and offered silk clothes to the deity. All the family members of the Vizianagaram Samsthan witnessed the procession from atop the Fort.
District collector MM Naik, a large number of officials, senior IAS officers, MLAs and MPs from north coastal districts witnessed the event. Puli veshaalu, Kolatalu, folk dances and musical band parties delighted the devotees. As the district administration banned the sale of liquor in the town, traders sold liquor from the backdoor at high prices. In view of the festival, the district administration banned the sale of liquor for two days.