Devotion marks divine wedding of Sri Sita Rama at Vontimitta

Vontimitta (YSR Kadapa district): The celestial wedding of Lord Kodanda Rama Swamy and Goddess Sita was celebrated with great devotion under the moonlight at the Kalyana Vedika in Vontimitta on Wednesday night.

The event was held as part of the ongoing Navahnika Brahmotsavams at the Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple, popularly known as Andhra Ayodhya. Thousands of devotees gathered to witness the grand Kalyanotsavam, for which the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) made elaborate arrangements.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, along with his wife Bhuvaneswari and grandson Devansh, attended the sacred ceremony. Following tradition, they offered Mutyala Talambralu and silk robes to the divine couple on behalf of the state government and watched the entire ceremony with devotion.

On his arrival at the temple, priests welcomed the Chief Minister with a traditional Poorna Kumbha Swagatham. He was presented with Shesha Vastram, received Vedic blessings from scholars, and was later given Tirtha Prasadams along with a portrait of Sri Kodanda Rama of Vontimitta.

Nearly 80,000 devotees attended the celestial wedding. The TTD, in coordination with the district administration, made extensive arrangements, and devotees expressed satisfaction with the facilities provided and appreciated the grand organisation of the event.

A total of 121 spacious galleries were set up at the Kalyana Vedika so that devotees could sit comfortably and watch the ceremony. Pearl talambralu, Srivari laddu prasadam, and bangles were distributed to all attendees.

Each devotee also received a food kit containing lemon rice, kesari, biscuits, mango juice, a water bottle, and sweet and savoury items. Around 2,600 Srivari Sevaks, guided by nearly 50 senior sevaks, continuously supplied buttermilk and drinking water to devotees in the galleries. In addition, TTD operated 20 free buses from traffic diversion points to the wedding venue to help devotees travel conveniently.

Earlier in the day, special marriage gifts from Lord Venkateswara Swamy arrived at Vontimitta for the occasion. These included a golden Mukha Patti weighing about one kilogram for the main deity and a silver pot weighing around two kilograms. TTD chairman B R Naidu and executive officer M Ravichandra performed special pujas to the ornaments before handing them over to the temple authorities.

JEO V Veerabrahamam and other officials also took part in the programme.