Bhadradri float festival celebrated in specially created pond

Bhadrachalam: The corona pandemic had its impact on the grand celebration of Teppotsavam (float festival) at the temple of Lord Sri Rama in Bhadrachalam.

Normally on every Vaikuntha Ekadasi day, the Teppotsavam is held in River Godavari on a beautifully decorated Hamsa Vahanam accompanied by the bursting of firecrackers witnessed by many devotees.

But for the first time in the last five decades, the celebrations were held in a pond in front of Chitrakuta mandapam inside the temple premises in a specially created pond and in a very low-key manner. No devotees could witness the event.

Only people's representatives, officials, priests and temple officials were present. These celebrations were first launched by the then Executive Officer Nagi Reddy and Trust Board Chairman Alluri Murthy Raju in 1971.

The deities were decorated with colourful clothes and were taken out in a procession from the main temple to the temporary pond. The deities were seated on a small Hamsa Vahanam and the temple priests performed the puja by chanting Vedic hymns. The main puja lasted for an hour.

It may be mentioned here that Sri Rama Navami and Mukkoti Ekadashi celebrations were also conducted in a simple manner in view of the pandemic.

The temple will be open for limited devotees for the Uttara Dwara Darshanam on Friday between 5 am and 6 am.