Date:23/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/23/stories/2008012354780500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TTD chariot arrives in Mahabubnagar

Correspondent

MAHABUBNAGAR: Religious fervour prevailed with the arrival of TTD chariot, Chathuryuga Bakthi Chaithanya Yatra, in Mahabubnagar town on Monday night.

Devotees in large number, including women and children, assembled at Hanmanpura on the outskirts of the town to receive the TTD chariot.

“Edukondalavada, Venkataramana, Govinda Govinda” rent the air when the ratham reached Hanmanpura.

With an aim to spread the glory of Tirumala and Srivaru to the devotees, the TTD and its Dharma Prachara Parishat have jointly taken up a novel programme.

As part of it, Chaturyuga Bakthi Chaithanya Yatra was taken out from Alipiri (Tirupati) on December 20.

Utsava Murthi of Tirumala was installed in the chariot and the priests from Tirumala were performing puja and other daily rituals to the deity. The rath yatra, which was started from Hanmanpura in the town with various bhajan troupes singing bajans and performing ‘kolatam’ after covering main thoroughfares in the town, reached Sri Rama Temple at Jagadamba Colony.

The organisers arranged Srivari Darshanam to the devotees at the temple.

Collector V. Usharani, TTD chairman Karunakara Reddy, TTD E.O. Ramanachary, local MLA Puliveeranna, ZP Chairman K. Damodhara Reddy, DCC president S. Prakash were among the devotees who received the ratham at Ram mandir crossroads in the town.

Earlier at Hanmanpura, BJP state executive committee member N. Rajeshwara Reddy, BJP district secretary K. Ramulu, Swara Cultural Academy chairman Baganna Goud and others, after receiving the Srivari Ratham, led the bhajan troupes.