Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said the second Ayuti Maha Chandi Yagam was being conducted for achieving statehood for Telangana besides peace, prosperity of the state and country.
“There is no personal agenda. I took the decision (to perform the yagam) four years ago after the birthday celebrations of the Sringeri Jagadguru. I had told the Jagadguru’s disciple Hastakala Rammohan Sharma, who informed me about the yagam, that if I achieve Telangana statehood I would perform the yagam for Ammavaru (Goddess Chandi), however difficult it may be,” Mr Rao said.
Arrangements for the yagam were done under the supervision of the Sringeri Mutt seer Bharathi Theertha Mahaswami and his team.
The Sringeri mutt had conducted the first such yagam in 2011 and this is the second of its kind in the country, Mr Rao said. “It’s a very tough task and one has to follow minute rules rigidly as per the Shastras lest it be counterproductive. Even I will not be allowed unless I follow the rituals,” the CM said.
The Sringeri seer had deputed his staff and disciples to oversee the five-day yagam to be held from December 23.
“The yagam including puja essentials, temporary infrastructure, power, food for about 50,000 people daily and others costs about '7 crore. It’s not the money, the rituals are very important,” he said.
Mr Rao, who oversaw the arrangements on Friday, said since it was a personal yagam he would bear all the expenses with help from close friends.
To a question, Mr Rao jocularly said he had paid all expenses including for RTC buses, taxis and other transportation cost to bring the media and other visitors to the venue, as well as to install two transformers and other equipment.
“It is my personal yagam. It is for achieving Telangana statehood, praying to the goddess to save the state from drought and natural calamities, ensure good health and prosperity of the people and the state,” he said.
“I don’t want to commit silly mistakes for people to point a finger at me. It is a very holy event and I welcome everyone to join the yagam, have theertham and prasadam. We have made elaborate arrangements for the people and VIPs,” he said.
Mr Rao said President Pranab Mukherjee, Governors E.S.L. Narasimhan, K. Rosaiah and Ch Vidyasagar Rao, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu and Bandaru Dattareya, Supreme Court judge Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice J. Chalameswar, High Court acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosle among others had confirmed participation.
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