Vontimitta temple brahmotsavams off to a ceremonial start | The Hindu
The nine-day annual brahmotsavams in the ancient Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy temple at Vontimitta in Kadapa district was off to a ceremonial start, with Dhwajarohanam performed in the auspicious Vrishabha Lagnam at 9:03 a.m. on Sunday.
The temple’s chief priest Sri Rajesh Bhattar and other priests performed Navakalasa Panchamritabhishekam to the Dhwaja Sthambham and hoisted the Garuda Dhwaja on the temple pillar with religious fervour. Special pujas were performed to the utsav idols of Lakshmana Sahitha Sri Seetha Rama Swamy.
Ministers Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy and Ch. Adinarayana Reddy, Rajya Sabha member C.M. Ramesh and Government Whip M.V. Mallikarjuna Reddy took part in celestial fete. They were accorded a traditional welcome by the temple authorities and had darshan of the presiding deities.
The Ministers, MP and others launched preparation of “Mutyala thalambralu“ by mixing turmeric and ghee with rice for use during Seetharama kalyanotsavam on March 30. They carried plates containing the thalambralu on their head and placed them in the kalyana mantapam. About 380 Srivari sevakulu (volunteers) took part and prepared nearly two lakh thalambralu packets for the occasion. MLC P. Ramasubba Reddy, former Union Minister
A. Sai Prathap, A.P. Civil Supplies Corporation chairman M. Linga Reddy, former Minister P. Brahmaiah, former MLC C. Chengalrayudu, State TDP organising secretary S. Goverdhan Reddy and district TDP president R. Srinivasa Reddy took part.
Mr. Chandramohan Reddy and Mr. Adinarayana Reddy said that the government was committed to develop the historical Vontimitta temple on par with the Bhadrachalam temple. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) was extending assistance to construct temples in areas inhabited by the SCs, STs and fishermen and giving archaka training to youth of the communities and appointing them as priests in the temples, they said.
‘Kavi Sammelanam’
The Minister released Sri Ramaneeyakam, a book written by retired teacher K. Narasimhulu, under the aegis of Potana Sahitya Peetham on Pothana jayanthi on Sunday. In a ‘Kavi Sammelanam’ conducted by TTD Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad, poets recited poetry on significance of Bhagavatham, Pothana’s devotion, Ramayanam and Ramayana Kalpavruksham etc. The idols of the deities were taken round on Seshavahana seva in the evening. Ankurarpanam was performed in the temple at night.
