Ratha Saptami celebrated with series of chariots

Markapur: Sri Sridevi Bhudevi sameta Sri Lakshmi Chennakesava Swamy temple in Markapur celebrated the ‘Ratha Saptami’ festival in a grand manner with a series of divine chariots, on Tuesday.

The temple priests Sripati Appanacharyulu and Nandhyala Srinivasacharyulu decorated the deities with the silk robes, valuable jewels and gold and diamond ornaments under the supervision of chief priest Nandhyala Tirumalacharyulu, in the early morning. 

The Suryaprabha Vahanam started at 05:30 am and the lord Chennakesava offered blessings to the devotees packed in the main streets. 

Later the almighty adorned the Sesha Vahanam, Garuda Vahanam, Hanumantha Vahanam, Kalpavriksha Vahanam, Rajata Vahanam, and Chandraprabha Vahanam and offered a darshan of a lifetime to the people attended the festival, between intervals of a one and half hour. 

In the meantime, the priests offered Chakrasnanam to rejuvenate the forces of the god and give an opportunity to the devotees to feel the mightiness of divine powers.

The people from various organisations and societies offered free meals at 16 places in the Markapur town while artistes from various places were pleasing the god with their performances.

Former MLAs Kandula Narayana Reddy, Anna Rambabu, temple trust board chairman Yakkali Kasi Viswanatham, EO B Ramesh, Municipal Chairperson Vakkalagadda Radhika Mallikharjuna, Sivalayam Trust Board Chairman K Syamasundara Rao and other prominent persons from the town and nearby villages sought the darshan of the almighty. 

The Markapur DSP Nageswara Reddy made foolproof arrangements to provide security to the devotees and kept law and order under control in the large gathering festival.