Nellore: Though it is not a national holiday, liquor shops will remain closed at Markapuram town on Sunday. The liquor shop license holders and mutton outlet shopkeepers have voluntarily downed their shutters on Sunday. Due to the serious water crisis being faced by the town, people of all communities are coming together to take part in the concluding ceremony (Poornahuthi) of the ongoing sacred Varuna Yagam on Sunday in the outskirts of the town.
Muslims and Christians are also taking part in the religious activity by organising mass prayers in the sidelines of the Yagam and all of them are going to have food together as part of Vanabojanam. Credit goes to former legislator and TD leader Markapuram in brining people of all faiths on to one platform to appease the rain god. Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Narayana Reddy said that the Varuna Yagam was conducted 25 years ago by their elders to overcome the famine. It was conducted near a centuries old stone believed to be of Krishna Deva Raya period.
“We have decided to perform the yagam at the same place, after laying approach roads and cleaning the place. Priests from Sringeri Peetam agreed to conduct the sacred yagam which commenced on Friday,” Mr Reddy said. He added that elders agreed to perform Duva and prayers as requested.
