Over 5 lakh people estimated to attend the Amaravati ceremony

Hyderabad/Vijayawada: The foundation stone Amaravati will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Ministers from Japan and Singapore, union ministers, ambassadors of various countries to India, chief justice, Supreme Court judges hailing from AP, Union ministers, Chief Ministers, celebrities, and other dignitaries will be participating in the historic event.

Over five lakh people are expected to attend the ceremony with seating for 1.10 lakh being arranged. A symbolic bhumi puja had been conducted on June 6 at Mandadam village for the capital and the state government had announced that a full-fledged “sankusthapana (foundation ceremony)” would be held on Vijaya Dasami i.e. October 22.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform the shilanyas between 12.35 pm and 12.42 pm. Yagnas and Vedic rituals will continue right from the morning but the Prime Minister will perform ratna nyas, shilanyas, sprinkling of nava dhanyas, pouring sacred water and clay drawn from every part of the state and other states as well as Mecca and Jerusalem. Chief Minister, other dignitaries will also participate in this process,” Dr Parakala Prabhakar, media adviser, told this newspaper.