Bhadrachalam, March 27: The historic town of Bhadrachalam was enveloped in spiritual fervor on Friday as the celestial wedding of Lord Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy, the “Tirukalyana Mahotsavam,” was performed with grand religious traditionalism. Marking the occasion of Sri Rama Navami, the event drew thousands of devotees from across the Telugu states to the beautifully decorated Mithila Stadium. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, accompanied by his wife Geetha, participated in the sacred rituals, upholding the long-standing tradition of the state government. On behalf of the people of Telangana, the Chief Minister offered the “Pattu Vastrams” (sacred silk robes) and “Mutyala Talambralu” (pearls mixed with rice) to the presiding deities amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns and the rhythmic sounds of nadaswaram.
The ceremony, conducted during the auspicious “Abhijit Lagnam” between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., saw the priests perform the wedding rituals in strict accordance with the Vaikhanasa Agama Shastra. Beyond the spiritual celebrations, the day marked a significant milestone for the temple’s future. Earlier in the morning, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy performed the “Bhoomi Puja” and laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the temple’s expansion and development project, estimated at a cost of ₹351 crore. This ambitious plan includes the modernization of the Godavari river ghats at ₹75 crore, the expansion of temple infrastructure at ₹180 crore, and the overall improvement of the temple premises with an allocation of ₹96 crore.
The Chief Minister was joined by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and several cabinet ministers, including Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, and Konda Surekha. During his address, the Chief Minister extended his heartiest greetings to the citizens, describing Lord Rama as the ultimate symbol of righteousness and integrity. He emphasized that the government is committed to transforming Bhadrachalam, often referred to as the “Ayodhya of the South,” into a world-class pilgrimage center while preserving its ancient sanctity. To manage the massive influx of pilgrims, the district administration and police had deployed nearly 2,000 personnel, ensuring that the distribution of “Talambralu” and “Laddu Prasadam” proceeded smoothly at various designated counters throughout the temple town.
