 |
Fairs and festivals |
| Two major festivals are
being celebrated every year which were introduced and traditionally
celebrated right from the tenure of Bhakta Ramadas. "Vykuntha
Ekadasi" a religious festival that attracts lakhs(hundred
thousand) of devotees from all over the country at this famous
shrine Bhadrachalam, is celebrated in the months of either
December or January in 'Dhanur Masam' on the day of either
Pushya or Margasira shuddha Ekadasi. The ten day festival
called Adhyayanotsavams and Dasavatara Mahotsavams(10 incarnations)
of Sri Maha Vishnu are preceded to Vykuntha Ekadasi Fete. |
|
| On Dasami
day , the colourful Teppotsavam is a special attraction to the
devotees . The deities of Rama and his consort Sita will be taken
into rounds on the holi river Godavari on a well decorated "Hamsavahana"
( on the swan shaped motor launch ) amid display of crackers and
stupendous illumination . And on the auspicious Vykuntha Ekadasi
day on the early hours exactly at 5 am Vykuntha dwarams at Northern
Gate will be thrown open for darshan to devotees .The devotees
believe that they will attain salvation after having Vykuntha
Dwara darshan .This holi festival attracts lakhs of pilgrims . |
 |
|
| Vaaggeyakaara
Mahotsavams |
|
Vaaggeyakara
Mahotsavams are being celebrated every year to commemorate Bhakta
Ramadasa, a vaaggeyakara and an ardent devotee of Sri Rama. Dhyana
Mandir, a prayer hall was constructed in 1972 in memory of Bhakta
Ramadasa by Mr. Neelamaraju Venkata Sheshaiah, the then editor
of Andhra Prabha by collecting funds from public through donations
from Andhra Prabha (Telugu Daily News Paper) readers. Since then,
the Vaggeyakaara mahotsavams are being celebrated during Mukkoti
Ekadasi by inviting renowned musicians. |
| Sri
Rama Navami Brahmotsavams |
 |
Another
major festival, Sri Rama Navami(the most popular one at Bhadrachalam)
is being celebrated on every 'Chaitra shuddha navami ' on the
auspicious 'Punarvasu' -'Janma Nakshatra' (birth star), of Lord
Sri Rama. The Kalyanamahotsavam of Sri Rama with his consort Sita
is celebrated on the holy occasion which falls either in the last
week of March or first week of April. This divine festival is
celebrated in a resplendent manner amid chanting of hyms by priests
in Kalyanamantapam, richly engraved and exquisite sculptures depicting
events from our Itihasas and Puranas, at the vicinity of stadium,
where lakhs of devotees congregate to witness the fete with great
devotional spirit and pay their owes for favours received or Solicited.
The kalyanamahotsavam is celebrated on the holy occasion between
10 am and 12.30 pm and the sacred Talambralu showered on the deities
exactly at 12 noon. This Sri Rama Navami Festival occassion is
being broadcasted by All India Radio and telecast through Doordarshan
on the festive day from 10 AM to 12 Noon. This is the only festival
which is being covered by Akashavaani and Doordarshan as a Live
programme all over the state (Andhra Pradesh). |
|
