Fervour, gaiety mark Sirimanu festival in Vizianagaram

Vizianagaram: The town was flooded with multitudes of devotees who wanted to have glimpse of the Sirimanu Utsav of Goddess Pydithalli on Tuesday. Around two lakh people thronged the fete and prayed to deity seeking her blessings and fulfilment of their wishes of happiness and prosperity.

Crowds witnessed the procession from ground as well atop the buildings. As per the belief, Sirimanu means tree of wealth. Hence, paying obeisance to the trunk of the tree which is used in the festival is believed to bestow the boons to the devotees.

The procession of Sirimanu (blessed tree trunk) began at around 4 pm at Chaduru Gudi of Pydithalli and proceeded slowly towards the fort. Chief priest of the temple Bantuplli Venkata Rao mounted the Sirimanu which is around 30 feet height, which was fixed on a cart pulled by the devotees.

An artificial white elephant also followed the Sirimanu. (In yesteryears, real elephant used to participate in the festival.) Venkata Rao, who sits on the Sirimanu, blessed the people of Vizianagaram on behalf of the Goddess.

The procession takes places three times between the temple and the fort the distance between which is around 600 metre. Anjali chariot is also one of the main items in the procession. Anjali Ratham is a cart, on which five women sit and follow the Sirimanu. History says that all the five women are the close associates and chaperones of Pydithalli, and thus get importance in the festival. Local folk arts like Puli Veshalu, Karra Samu were performed during the festival by the local artists.

Members of royal family of P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, ministers P Pushpa Srivani, Botcha Satyanarayana, minister for endowments Vallampalli Srinivas, district collector Harijawahar Lal, MLAs and others attended the event. Botcha Satyanarayana offered silk robes to the Goddess on behalf of state government.