Sirimanotsavam: Lakhs of devotes throng Vizianagaram to celebrate festival post-Covid

Vizianagaram: Sirimanotsavam, a major folk festival of presiding deity of Vizianagaram Town Sri Pydithalli Ammavari Jatara was celebrated with traditional fervor and gaiety on Tuesday.

Lakhs of devotees from parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP) and neighboring Odisha and Chhattisgarh thronged Vizianagaram town to seek blessings of the presiding deity. Hereditary trustee of the Pydithalli Ammavaru temple and senior TDP leader Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju along with his family members offered prayers to the goddess in the morning session. They also performed traditional rituals and watched Sirimanotsavam in the evening.

As per the schedule, the procession of Sirimanu was supposed to be started at around 3.50 pm but it started at 5.12 pm at Chaduru Gudi of Pydithalli. Later it moved slowly toward the fort. Chief priest of the temple Bantupalli Venkata Rao was seated on top of a long wooden pole (called Sirimanu) and he made three rounds from the temple to the fort three times before returning. The devotees believe that the priest is possessed and throws bananas at him.

Though Pydithalli Ammavari is a 41-day festival, Sirimanotsavam, is the major attraction as lakhs of devotees witness the spectacle of the priest sitting on top of the 55-foot pole (sirimanu) in regal robes. From the upper end of the Sirimanu, the priest blesses the devotees and the chariot covers the thoroughfares of Vizianagaram on Tuesday evening.

Vizianagaram police had pressed drones into service for surveillance. Over 2,500 police personnel were deployed at various places to prevent any untoward incident and ensure the smooth conduct of the event.

Vizianagaram police chief Deepika M Patil monitored the event through the Command Control Centre. A large number of the devotees, who occupied every available space along the road and every rooftop in the fort city, too stayed put to watch Sirimanotasavam. The major folk festival was held without the usual flock of devotees for the past two years as the district administration had imposed restrictions due to Covid-19.

Minister Botsa Satyanarayana and a few other leaders of YSRC and TDP witnessed the festival. Puliveshaalu, Kolatam, and other folk-art forms added color to the celebrations.

The origin of the festival lies in the legend that goes back to 1757 when King Pasupati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju, of the Vizianagaram Royal family, was killed in the battle of Bobbili. His heartbroken sister Pydimamba had ended her life by jumping into the Pedda Cheruvu lake, vowing to protect the fort town at all costs. She proclaimed that her statue will be found on the west bank of Cheruvu. Her prediction came true when fishermen found an idol. The idol was installed in the temple, which the locals believe has been protecting the town to this day.