The Andhra Pradesh Government will celebrate its first Sri Ramanavami celebrations in the 450-year-old Sri Kodandarama temple in Vontimitta of Kadapa district.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister will offer silk clothes and “Mutyala Thalambralu” to the presiding deity and attend the celestial wedding at night.
There are week-long cultural activities that will be held from March 28th to April 6th by Pothana Sahitya Kalavedika and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
With the Sri Rama Navami celebrations kick-starting with great poet Bammera Pothana’s birth anniversary, there is a special speech by Jonnavithhula Ramalingeswara Rao and a congregation of poets. On March 29th, there is a special Kuchipudi performance along with a musical evening of Tyagaraja hymns.
In order to boost the temple’s glory in the state, the Andhra Pradesh government is mulling over developing the sacred temple town into a prominent spiritual centre.
The legend says that one will not find an idol of Lord Hanuman along with the main deities in the sanctum sanctorum in Vontimitta. It is also believed that the temple was constructed by Jambavantha, much before Lord Rama met Hanuman. Also, the Seetarama kalyanam in this temple is held in the night, while it is performed during the day elsewhere in the country. (INN)