Date:17/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/17/stories/2008041753810300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TTD ‘ratham’ on return journey

Staff Reporter

11 districts to be covered before it reaches Tirupati

— Photo: G.N. Rao

TTD Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy addressing devotees as the Sri Rama Ratham embarks on its return journey at Bhadrachalam on Wednesday.

BHADRACHALAM: The ‘Sri Rama Ratham’, which reached here as part of the TTD-sponsored ‘Chaturyuga Bandham - Bhakti Chaitanya Yatra’ two months ago, embarked on its return journey on Wednesday. The idol of Lord Venkateswara, a replica of the one at Tirumala carried by the ‘ratham’ was worshipped by thousands of devotees at the abode of Lord Rama since February 14.

Devotees, who congregated here for the Sita Rama kalyanam – a celestial fete on the day of Srirama Navami, also made a beeline for the ‘ratham’ to have a darshan of Lord Balaji. Some 11 districts would be covered on the return journey spanning 40 days before it reaches Tirupati on May 25.

Speaking on occasion TTD Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy and TTD executive officer K.V. Ramanachary said that the yatra was aimed at taking the Lord to the devotees at large. The Sri Rama Radham was one of the three Bhakti Chaitanya Rathams -- set on the spiritual sojourn from Alipiri on December 20. The Narasimha Ratham representing the Krita Yugam, Sri Rama Ratham representing Threta Yugam and Sri Krishna Ratham representing Dwapara Yugam rolled reached different destinations as part of it.

Propagation

They said that the whole exercise was aimed at reviving the spiritual values of Hindu Dharma. The Bhakti Chaitanya yatra was received well by the devout all over. Minister for Vydya Vidhana Parishad VanamaVenkateswar Rao said the TTD had taken the lead role in propagating the Hindu dharma while playing a social cause.