AP Govt To Celebrate Rama Navami At Vontimitta

The Andhra Pradesh government will have its first Sri Rama Navami celebrations in the 450-year-old Sri Kodanda Rama temple in Vontimitta of the Kadapa district.

The Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister will offer silk clothes and "Mutyala Thalambralu" to the presiding deity and attend the celestial wedding at night.

There will be week-long cultural activities from March 28th to April 6th by the Pothana Sahitya Kala Vedika and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

The events will kick-start with the great poet Bammera Pothana's birth anniversary celebrations, featuring a special speech by Jonnavithhula Ramalingeswara Rao and a congregation of poets. On March 29th, there will be a special Kuchipudi performance along with a musical evening of Thyagaraja hymns.

In order to boost the temple's glory in the state, the Andhra Pradesh government is mulling over developing the sacred temple town into a prominent spiritual centre.

Legend has it that one will not find an idol of Lord Hanuman along with the main deities in the sanctum sanctorum in the Vontimitta temple. It is also believed that the temple was constructed by Jambavantha, much before Lord Rama met Hanuman. Also, the Sita Rama kalyanam in this temple is held in the night, while it is performed during the day elsewhere in the country. (INN)