Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy, along with his wife, took part in the celestial wedding of Lord Rama with Sita at Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple in Bhadrachalam on the occasion of Rama Navami on Sunday.
Revanth offered ‘pattu vastralu’ (silk clothes) and ‘mutyala talambralu’ (pearl necklaces) to the deities on behalf of the state govt. By doing so, Revanth revived the tradition of the CM participating in the Rama Navami celebrations. Former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao attended the celebrations for the first two years of his tenure, after which the endowments minister started to offer pattu vastralu on behalf of the govt every Rama Navami.
Grand celebrations
Thousands of devotees participated in the annual mega religious event. More than 2,000 policemen were deployed as part of the security arrangements at the temple. Priests performed rituals associated with Sitarama Kalyanam. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman BR Naidu presented silk clothes to the deity on behalf of TTD.
Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and his spouse, endowments minister Konda Sureakha and her spouse, and chief secretary Santhi Kumari were present on the occasion. The Bhadrachalam temple was beautifully decked up for the occasion.
After attending Rama Navami rituals at the famous Sita Ramachandraswamy temple, the CM drove to Sarapaka village in Burgampahad mandal, where he visited the residence of B Srinivas, a beneficiary of the govt’s fine rice distribution scheme. Revanth had lunch with Srinivas and his family. The meal was cooked using fine rice supplied by the govt. Srinivas’s family expressed their gratitude to the CM for replacing the coarse rice that was supplied through fair price shops under the public distribution system with the fine rice.
The CM also inquired with the family members about the benefits of free power supply of up to 200 units and cooking gas cylinders at only Rs 500 each. Tulasamma, a relative of Srinivas, said she was happy with the free bus travel scheme rolled out by the govt and said it was highly beneficial for working women.
Later, Revanth presented clothes to the family members. A large number of villagers turning up at Srinivas’s house. Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, and chief secretary Santhi Kumari were present.
