About 2.6 lakh devotees participated in the ‘Sirimanotsavam’ in Vizianagaram on Tuesday. The festival, which has association with each and every family in fort town, went off peacefully despite presence of a large number of people from different parts of north Andhra region. About 2,000 police personnel supervised by 10 DSPs and 35 CIs provided security.

As per the tradition, the ‘Sirimanu’ carrying the chief priest Bantupalli Venkata Rao moved three times from Three Lamps Junction to Vizianagaram Fort. The chief priest, considered to be the replica of Goddess Pydimamba, blessed devotees who waited between 3.45 p.m. and 5.05 p.m. for his ‘darshan’. Customary Anjali Ratham, Jalari Vala and replica of white elephant have also followed ‘Sirimanu’.

Tragic background

The devotees have thrown banana ‘prasadam’ in a long-established way at chief priest who was seen in calm and pleasant mood although he was tied up to a long trunk of a tree.

Normally chariot is used in Indian festivals but in ‘Sirimanotsavam’, the chief priest himself blesses the devotees who would stay all along the route between Three Lamps Junction and Vizianagaram fort.

The festival which started in 1757 had a sorrowful background.

The then Vizianagaram Maharaja Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju’s sister Pydimamba committed suicide by jumping into ‘Pedda Cheruvu’ in the town after knowing about her brother’s death in the historic fight at Bobbili fort on January 23, 1757. In fact, she anticipated the outcome of the battle and warned her brother not to go for war when she and other family members were ill with plague. Her sudden death was another big shock for the family and people of Vizianagaram.

However, she reportedly told Raja’s aide Pativada Appalanaidu that she would protect the town as Goddess Pydimamba. Later her idol was found in the tank and a temple was constructed in her name. That is why all the families which connected with the episode play a key role in ‘Sirimantosavam’ which has been continuing for the last 260 years.

Interestingly, families of both Vizianagaram and Bobbili Princely States have jointly observed the ‘Sirimanotsavam’ this year.

Former Union Minister P.Ashok Gajapathi Raju, wife Sunila Gajapathi Raju and their daughter Aditi had offered prayers from the fort. Along with them, Bobbili Raja and Minister for Mines and Geology Sujay Krishna Ranga Rao and others watched the procession. Vizianagaram MLA Meesala Geeta and Zilla Parishad chairperson Sobha Swati Rani and others also offered prayers both at the temple and fort. YSR Congress Party leader Botcha Satyanarayana and MLC Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy and other opposition leaders have watched the procession from DCCB bank located near writer Gurajada Apparao’s house.

Earlier, Minister for Human Resources Development Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Minister for Energy Kala Venkata Rao and other VIPs offered prayers at the temple. They hailed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s decision to conduct ‘Sirimanotsavam’ as the State festival.

Elaborate arrangements

District Collector M. Hari Jawaharlal and Superintendent of Police G. Palaraju made elaborate arrangements for the utsavam. APSRTC operated more than 100 additional bus services to ensure hassle-free travel for the devotees who came from Saluru, Parvatipuram, Gajapathinagaram, Palakonda, Rajam, Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Vizianagaram – October 24th, 2018