Heavy influx of devotees at Antarvedi temple

Narsapuram: Hundreds of devoteed thronged Narsapuram town for taking part in Antarvedi festival on the banks of River Vasistha in East Godavari district. The devotees reached Narsapuram and boarded the punts arranged at Valandhar Revu Ghat to go to the festival at Antarvedi. The devotees boarded the punt to go to Antharvedi where the Rathotsavam of Lord Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy would be organised in the temple, situated at the confluence of River Vasistha and Bay of Bengal.

The devotees from Krishna, West Godavari, Guntur districts and other states reached the Valandhar Revu Ghat in the morning. They offered prayers to the River Vasistha before boarding the punt. Most of the devotees were women in thousands, who thronged the ghat, waiting for their turn to board the punt.

The ‘Kalyanotsavasm’ (celestial wedding) of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy was performed in the temple late Saturday night which was witnessed by thousands of pilgrims. On Sunday, the pilgrims went to Antarvedi to witness the Lord’s Rathotsavam.

Following the heavy rush of pilgrims at Valandhar Revu, 50 police personnel have been posted to control the pilgrim rush, according to Narsapuram Rural Circle-Inspector Ch Subba Rao. Speaking to the media, he said that on Saturday and Sunday, there was a heavy influx of pilgrims and a queue system was arranged by the police at the ghat. He said that the police took precautionary measures in sending the pilgrims, on the punt. The police are patrolling on the river bund to prevent any eventualities, he added.

Expert swimmers also arranged at the ghat. Police Pickets were arranged at the ghat. Narsapur MLA Bandaru Madhava Naidu, former MLA Kothapalli Subba Rayudu and members of the Arya Vysya Sangham distributed food packets to the pilgrims. The voluntary organisations also extended their services at Valandhar Revu Ghat to the pilgrims.