Nellore: A huge turnout of devotees marked the Chariot festival held at the nearly two and half centuries-old Sri Kodandarama Swamy shrine at Buchireddypalem, 16 km from Nellore city, in Nellore as part of the Brahmotsvams on Friday.
Thousands of devotees pulled the tastefully decorated Chariot chanting ‘Jai Sri Ram’ unmindful of the scorching heat. Local residents distributed food items, buttermilk and water in the makeshift tents at different parts of the town.
The sprawling temple with a nearly 100 feet-tall Raja Gopuram resembles the ancient shrines in Tamil Nadu. It was built between 1765 and 1784 by Dodla Rami Reddy, also known as Bangaru Rami Reddy. He was a devout Hindu and had contributed his might in constructing many more temples.
He also donated liberally for the development of a few more temples. His family’s descendants have been managing this temple over the years and many have contributed to the development of this temple.
As per the records, the Dodla family had established Buchireddipalem 1715-16. The village is the hometown for doyens in politics such as Bezawada Ramachandra Reddy, Gopal Reddy and Papi Reddy. The Bramhotsavams are held every year, on Sri Rama Navami day, which falls in the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar.
Descendents of Dodla and Bezawada families living in different parts of the country make it a point to visit the shrine during the Brahmotsvams. It is also a practice for the people with their roots in Buchireddypalem to return home for the celestial wedding and chariot festival of Lord Kodanda Rama Swamy every year.
Temple trustee Dodla Muralikrishna Reddy and Bezawada Naresh Chandra Reddy supervised the arrangements for the Chariot festival.
