Vijayawada: The Sri Rama Navami festival was celebrated with great devotion and grandeur across Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. Devotees gathered in large numbers at temples to mark the divine birth of Lord Rama and his wedding with Sita Devi, a moment of immense spiritual significance for Hindus.
Special prayers, Sitarama Kalyanams (celestial wedding ceremonies), and community feasts were organised in almost every village and town. Traditional thatched canopies made of palm leaves (Chaluva Pandillu) were set up at Sri Rama temples, where villagers came together to participate in the spiritual rituals.
In Vijayawada alone, nearly 200 Sri Rama Navami celebrations were held. Major events took place at the prominent Sri Ram Temples on Eluru Road and Patamata Center, drawing thousands of devotees. The Sitarama Kalyana Mahotsavam at Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Sitanagar, under the auspices of the Kanakadurga Temple, was a key highlight.
Devotees were served panakam, a sweet jaggery drink, as prasad, and Annadanam (community feast) was arranged at many temples after the wedding ceremonies. The Vijayawada city police ensured the smooth conduct of the events, deploying personnel at key temples and crowd-heavy areas to maintain law and order throughout the festivities.
