Several temples performed Sitarama Kalyanam traditionally
Hyderabad: A wave of devotion and chants of “Jai Shri Ram” swept across Hyderabad for Sri Rama Navami on Sunday as the Shobha Yatra passed through the roads of the city.
The procession has been a tradition since 2010. It saw thousands joining the procession chanting “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Hanuman” with saffron flags in hand and idols of Lord Rama, Hanuman and Chhatrapati Shivaji.
The Bhagyanagar Sri Rama Navami Utsav Samiti’s procession began from Seetharambagh temple at Asifnagar. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma took part in Sita Rama Kalyanam at the temple, and later flagged off the shobha yatra along with the Tripura Deputy Speaker Ram Prasad Paul, and organisers.
The procession began at 1 pm, and concluded at Ramkoti’s Hanuman Vyayam Shala. Police, traffic and special protection forces personnel were deployed along the procession route to manage traffic diversions and ensure peaceful conduct.
Around 20,000 police personnel were deployed for yatra and the entire route was monitored by city police commissioner C.V. Anand and senior officials till its conclusion. Anand gave instructions to the staff, after inspecting the procession route in the morning.
BJP MLA Raja Singh led another procession from Mangalhat’s Akashpuri Hanuman temple, after conducting a special yagnam. The procession featured the statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji and his son Sambaji Maharaj.
Meetings were held along the route, and spiritual leaders and committee members delivered speeches. Devotees participated by singing bhajans, dancing to the music a
K. Manjula, a member of the utsav samiti, said “Many youngsters and people have joined and participated with us.”
K. Saikumar, a devotee from Mangalhat who said he participated in the event every year, was all praise for the arrangements.
Several people and associations distributed free water packets, buttermilk, soft drinks, food, snacks and other eatables, bringing much needed relief for devotees participating in scorching heat.
At Begum Bazaar, utsav samiti president Baghwanth Rao said, “To protect Hindu Dharma, we all must unite. There shouldn’t be a competition in conducting a procession. If one group holds another should follow it.”
Both the processions went from Ganga Bowli near Mangalhat towards Karwan-Jummerat Bazaar circle near Puranapool, and then headed towards Chudi Bazar through Jummerat Bazaar.
From Chudi Bazar the procession went to Begum Bazar Chatri, and then towards Siddiamber Bazar's Jama Masjid. From there, it waded through Gowliguda’s thin lanes and led towards Osmania Medical College at Koti. After reaching Koti's Andhra Bank circle, the procession went towards Ramkoti and ended at Hanuman Vyayamshala.
Temples across the city were filled with devotees as priests performed the ceremonial Sita Rama Kalyanam (wedding) in the morning and Pallaki Seva (procession) in the evening. Devotees also participated in the Annadanam (food donation) programme, and distributed free food.
