Mantralayam, August 24, 2013: The 342nd Aradhana celebrations at Sri Raghavendra Math in Mantralaya concluded with a grand Rathotsava and Uttaradhane on Friday. Despite disturbances in many parts of Andhra Pradesh over the Telangana issue, thousands of devotees from different parts of the country participated in the last day of celebrations.

Performances by cultural troupes from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka were a special attraction.

Suyateendra Teertha, the present head of Mantralaya Math, flagged off the Rathotsava by delivering his blessing before a huge crowd.

The seer wished for a peaceful and prosperous world. Junior seer Subudhendra Teertha, who was recently appointed as the successor of the math, caught the attention of devotees by delivering his message in Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil.

“Mantralaya is divine centre of all people, irrespective of their caste, region, religious sect or socio-economic status. That so many from diverse socio-religious and cultural backgrounds have participated in the celebrations is proof of this,” he said.

After the completion of all necessary rituals, devotees pulled the ratha that carried the statue of Guru Raghavendra through all the major streets of Mantralaya.

Before the Rathotsava began, Suyateendra Teertha and Subudhendra Teertha offered special pujas at original Brindavan of Guru Raghavendra Teertha. Then, as per the traditions of the math, the seers smeared the colours on each other’s faces.

The number of devotees was much less than last year, to the disturbances in many parts of Andhara Pradesh over the Telangana Statehood issue.

This affected the business in the holy town.

“The room rent at hotels is Rs. 1,500 a day this year, as against last year’s Rs. 7000,” said a devotee.

Source: The Hindu, August 24, 2013