Hyderabad: Celestial wedding of Bhadradri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy from close quarters comes with a price

Hyderabad: Want to watch the celestial wedding of Bhadradri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy on April 2, Sri Rama Navami day from close quarters? Then get ready to pay Rs 5,000 per head since the State Endowments department has decided to sell 55 per cent of the seats to those who can afford to pay high rates.

The common man will have to remain contended by watching it from a distance. The Endowments department this year has come up with a scheme to earn a revenue of Rs 1,95,84,132 on the day of Kalyanam and an additional Rs 8,40,000 on the day of Sri Rama Pattabhishekam falling on April 3. All tickets have been put online.

Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official from the Endowments department said the entire seating capacity has been divided into eight categories. Each category has been divided into different compartments to allow pilgrims through different entry gates.

It will have eight gates and the ticket rates vary from Rs 200 to Rs 5,000 depending upon the distance from the stage where the kalyanam would be performed.

However, on the day of Pattabhishekam on April 3, when the rush would recede, the department has decided to drastically cut down the rates of the seats at the venue. The seats that would be charged at Rs 5,000 and Rs 2,000 for Kalyanam would be sold for Rs 250 and Rs 200.

This move of the endowments department has come in for sharp criticism from the opposition party. State BJP president Dr K Laxman said that it amounts to keep the common man away from participating in the popular celestial wedding.

He said the government led by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao who claims to be a staunch Hindu was depriving the common man from witnessing the most important and popular event.