Sun salutations, special pujas mark Ratha Sapthami

Pithapuram: Performing special pujas and sun salutations by students marked the celebration of Ratha Saptami at Uma Ramalingeswara Swamy temple here on Wednesday. 

Payasam cooked on cow-dung cakes in the open air was offered as ‘naivedyam’ to Sun God. Students performed Suryanamaskarams as Aditya Hrudayam, a prayer to invoke Sun God, was played in the background. 

Temple priests Dattu and Veerababu said that the Sun God governs our health and worshipping the deity, people will be able to safeguard their health. A large number of people, including students, worshipped the deity on the occasion. 

On account of Radha Sapthami, sun’s rays fell on Sun God’s image in the sanctum-sanctorum of the temple. Many people witnessed the spectacle. Such spectacle was known to take place in places like Arasavilli in Srikakulam district. A large number of devotees turned out at the temple to witness the spectacle.

By Saride Nageswara Rao