Thousands witness divine wedding at Ramateertham temple | The Hindu

As many as 15,000 devotees had the darshan of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita at the historic Ramateertham temple as Sitarama Kalyanam was performed in a traditional manner on Monday.

A festive spirit pervaded the temple located on a hill in Nellimarla mandal, 15 km away from Vizianagaram town.

Devasthanam’s priest Odavarti Narasimhacharyulu performed the divine wedding on the occasion of Srirama Navami. Although other temples celebrated it on Sunday, Ramateertham temple preferred to hold it on Monday, which had begun with navami thithi.

Devotees from various parts of North Andhra thronged the temple to witness the celestial wedding in Vilambi nama samvatsaram, which is considered the birth year of Lord Rama.

Minister for Mines and Geology Sujay Krishna Rangarao offered pattuvastramand pearls on behalf of the government. Traditional offerings were also sent to the temple by the Tirumala and Simhachalam devasthanams.

State event

With Bhadrachalam remaining with Telangana post bifurcation, the government selected Vontimitta in Kadapa district and Ramateertham of Vizianagaram for the official celebration of Srirama Navami.

Uttarandhra Sadhu Parishad president Swami Srinivasananda, Assistant Commissioner of the temple S.S.V.S.S. Prasad, Nellimarla Tahsildar Chinnarao and other officials made arrangements for the distribution of pearls and prasadam to devotees.

About 150 police personnel along with senior police officials regulated traffic and ensured hassle-free darshan for devotees.