Devi Chowk illuminated as part of Dasara festivities in Rajahmundry on Sunday.

Rajahmundry, October 14, 2013: On the occasion of Maha Navami, goddess Durga Devi was decorated in Mahishasuramardini alankarana by different festive committees at various places in Rajahmundry on Sunday.

At Devi Chowk, Goddess Durga in Mahishasuramardhini alankarana was propitiated with Vedic hymns and ‘Laksha kumkumarchana’ by ‘suvasinis’.

Long queue lines

There were long queue lines in the evening at Devi Chowk and illumination of entire area and decorations drew a large number of people from villages. As part of cultural programmes, ‘Chintamani,’ a popular Telugu play was staged on Saturday late night, which was received with great applause.

Special puja

“Soundarya Lahari” a cultural organisation, arranged special puja on the occasion of Maha Navami in the TTD Kalyana Mantapam where Devi Navaratri festival is being organised daily for the last one week. V.S.S. Krishna Kumar, organiser of the programme, said that Chandi Homam, Soura Homam, Navagraha Homam and other homams along with Lalitha, Gayatri, Durga sahasra namavali special pujas were performed on Saturday and Sunday. At Sabari Ashram in Tilak Road, D. Vasu arranged poor feeding and also special prasada distribution to people who took Bhavni Deeksha.

Vasamsetti Gangadhar, trade union leader, who organises Devi Navaratri festival at Gokavaram Bus Stand annually, arranged Chandi Homam at the specially erected pandal on Sunday as part of Sarannavaratri.

Sri Aksharakoti Gayatri Peetam, situated on the banks of river Godavari, Devi Navaratri is celebrated with gaiety and fervour.

On Saturday, Chandi Yagam was performed by Vedic Pandits under the guidance of temple founder Savitala Chakra Bhaskar Rao and committee members. In the front portion of the main deity, Goddess Gayatri was decorated as Mahishasuramardini on the occasion of Maharnavami and homam was performed from 8 a.m. to afternoon.

Physician Dr. Ganti Kalyana Sarma, senior Journalist Deekshitula Subrahmanyam, AKYS president Sannidhanam Sastry and another journalist Parthasarathi participated in Chandi Homam.

Source: The Hindu, October 14, 2013