Rajahmundry, October 11, 2013: Despite the ongoing agitation for a united State, the Sarannavartri celebrations are being held with gaiety across East Godavari district, particularly in the Astadasa Sakthipeetams -- Manikyamba temple in Draksharama, Puruhootika Devi temple in Pithapuram, Vijayadurga peetam, Vedurupaka, Devi Chowk in Rajahmundry, and Sri Devi temple committee in Amalapuram.

At Devi Chowk in Rajahmundry, huge cutouts of Lord Siva in meditation posture, “Maya Bazar’s vivaha bhojanam”, and ogress “Pootana” put up by the Devi Utsav Committee, which is celebrating the festival since 79 years, are attracting devotees to the venue in large numbers.

Sri Devi Utsav committee which is celebrating the festival since last 50 years in Muslim Street is continuing its tradition and this year also it is conducting the festival in a grand manner.

At Vedurupaka, goddess Vijaya Durga Devi is decorated with different avatars daily. Soundaryalahari, a cultural organisation, is conducting special rituals both morning and evening at TTD Kalyanamantapam. Vedic pandits are performing “Shodashopacharas” and offering nine varieties of Aaratis to Devi every evening.

At Haribabu Mandir in Seethampeta, Sri Maha Kameswari Devi Navaratri is being celebrated by Ajjarapu Haribabu and Matru Rupini Seva Samstha Bhaktha Brindam.

Source: The Hindu, October 11, 2013