Guru Purnima celebrated on a grand scale

Sangareddy: Devotees thronged Saibaba temples, Sri Guru Datta temples and Dattagiri Maharaj Ashram in the district on Friday on account of the Guru Purnami. Temples reverberated with devotees chanting ‘Om Sai Sri Sai’ and ‘Jayajaya Sai’. The devotees also chanted ‘Sai Digambara, Digambara and Sri Pada Digambara.’

The scenario was found everywhere in the district including Zaheerabad, Jogipet, Sangareddy and Sadasivapet. The Joint Collector, Nikhila Reddy, took part in Tulabharam (weighing of the seer in a scale) of seer of the Sridattagiri temple with coins. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the occasion. The Guru Purnami was celebrated at Sridattagiri Maharaj ashram in Birdipur under the leadership of the ashram seer 108thAvadhutaGiri Maharaj. Dr Sindheswar, who is tipped to succeed the 108thAvadhuta, performed the special pujas. Devotees from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh thronged the ashram and performed special pujas.

Besides the pujas, a kolatam was performed and bhajans were conducted. A purnahuti was performed. Ashram AvadhutaGiri Maharaj and AnasuyaMaata were weighed in coins equal to their weight. Zaheerabad DSP Nallamala Ravi, ZaheerabadMarkdet committee chairman Lakshma Reddy, district TRS leaders Sudheer Kumar and performed special pujas. Ashram chairman AlladiVeeresam felicitated the VIPs with a shawl. Birdipur sarpanch Jyoti Venugopal, Vedic school students, Vedic scholars Sivasankara Swamy and others took part in the celebrations.

The ashram management made arrangements to provide lunch to the thronging public. Jharasangam SI beefed up security for the occasion. Sangareddy District Collector Vasam Venkateswrluvisited the Ashram and broke coconuts at the panchavrukshaalu. Village sarpanch Jyoti welcomed the collector and garlanded her. Later, the Collector performed Jyotirlinga puja.