Vijayawada: For the Samaikyandhra protagonists, New Year’s Day was a day to pray to the Almighty that the bifurcation process grinds to a complete halt.
At almost all temples across the city, and the district, saw throngs of devotees, praying that their ardent desires are fulfilled in the course of 2014.
Notable among these devotees were United Andhra supporters, led by the Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Vedika, which conducted special pujas seeking halting of state bifurcation.
Besides, students in large numbers visited temples to perform pujas.
Students of a corporate college — P. Murali, G. Vybhav and others — said that they visited the Kanakadurga temple, offered Abhikshekam, seeking Samaikyandhra.
They said that students would lose higher education opportunities in various universities in Hyderabad if the state was divided.
Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Vedika founder-president N. Srihari said that they prayed that the Telugu people would remain as one.
P Shanmukha Sarma, priest of Panchamukha Anjaneya Swamy temple near railway station, said that many students requested special pujas so that they do well in all the examinations they take in 2014, and also for unity of the state.
