Teppotsavam celebrated with gaiety

Bhadrachalam: Teppostsavam was celebrated with pomp and gaiety in the temple town of Bhadrachalam though the unseasonal rains and cold weather affected festivities as many rituals were avoided.

But the bad weather failed to deter Lord Rama Temple authorities to perform all rituals needed on the occasion. The Teppotsavam of the presiding deity of Sri Sita Ramachandraswamy temple took place in a colourful manner.

Lord Rama accompanied by his consort Sita and his brother Lakshmana was brought to river Godavari at around 4.30 pm, in a ceremonial procession amid Kolatam dance by devotees and chanting of mantras by priests.

The priests chanting mantras consecrated the deity on a beautiful ‘HamsaVahanam’ (float). Special prayers were offered to the deity on the float till 6 pm as fire crackers were burst colourfully lighting up the skies marking Teppotsavam.

After completion of Teppotsvam ceremonies, Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were taken back to the main temple. The event was one of the two important parts of ten-day Mukkoti Ekadasi Dhyayanostavams.

The year the festivities was a bit subdued to the unseasonal rains which left the devotees a bit disappointed as all the rituals were performed in the inclement weather and they could not enjoy the moment for which they had trooped in the temple town.

This time the temple authorities gave a miss to the tradition of circling the float on Godavari waters for five times amid chanting of vedic mantras. The decision was taken in view of the rains, officials informed.

It is said that this was the first occasion where the Teppotsavam conducted in static manner, since the introduction of the ceremony at Bhadrachalam temple in 1974. 

Another main event 'Uttara Dwara Darshanam will take place on Tuesday on which Lord Rama would appear as MahaVishshu. On the same day 'Rapattu' ceremonies during nights would begin and continue till December 28 on which Adhyayanostavams concludes.

Teppotsvam was attended by Mahabubabad MP A SitaramNaik, Bhadrachalam  MLA elect P Veeraiah, MLC B Lakshminarayana, Kothagudem Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt, Joint Collector K B Venkateshwaralu and Sub-Collector BhaveshMisra.