Vizianagaram Utsavalu begin with pomp and gaiety

Vizianagaram: Vijayanagaram Utsavalu, a celebration of rich culture and heritage of the region, began with pomp and gaiety here on Saturday. The administration has been organising several programmes and events at different venues from Saturday bringing a festive atmosphere in the town. Visitors from all over the district are taking part in the programmes.

In fact, these Utsavalu are a warm-up event to the mega Sirimanu event to be conducted on Tuesday attracting a large number of people. On Monday, Tolellu Utsavam (Annadanam) would be done, according to the organisers.

Sirimanu is a festival organised to propitiate Goddess Pydithalli. Siri means lean and small and manu means slump of stick. The priest of the temple, while taking procession between the fort and the temple three times in the evening, hangs from the tip of the long, lean wooden stick (measuring 60 feet), raised high into the sky.

Minister for Tourism, Art and Culture Avanthi Srinivasa Rao and Deputy Chief Minister P Pushpa Srivani participated in the celebrations. Later Sobha Yatra was organized. Tappedagullu artistes attracted the attention of the public. Later, various cultural programmes were organized at Ananda Gajapathi Auditorium. A large number of students and artists participated in the event.

The district administration has made elaborate arrangements to maintain law and order during the celebrations. As thousands of devotees from North Andhra and from other states would visit the Goddess Paidithalli Ammavaru on Monday, barricades have been put up for the hassle-free darshan of Ammavaru.