Former sarpanch (Valmikipuram) K. Rajendrachari told that every year the TTD would earmark Rs. 30 lakh for the Sri Rama Navami Brahmotsavams here. “Next year, the festival would see grandeur 10 times more,” he said, The Hindu has reported.

The COVID-19 scare has taken away all the charm and enthusiasm of thousands of people of the western side of Chittoor, as for the first time in their lives they had missed the festivities at the famous Sri Pattabhirama Swami temple at Valmikipuram, 20 km from Madanapalle, on Thursday.

Sri Rama Navami is a household festival here, while the residents take pride in the holy hillock temple shrine. The significance of the temple is such that the households never let any relative or a visitor leave the town without a darshan at the temple.

“In the entire world, this is the only temple with idols of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrugna and Sita Devi present together in the sanctum sanctorum,” is the proud and joyous utterance from anyone here.

The temple, now under the administration of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), was a witness to the royal visits of Chhatrapati Sivaji, Tippu Sultan, Krishna Devaraya and several Vijayanagara kings, apart from saint poet Tallapaka Annamacharya, and many British officers. The temple has its glory mentioned in the sankeerthanas of Annamacharya.

Former sarpanch (Valmikipuram) K. Rajendrachari told that every year the TTD would earmark Rs. 30 lakh for the Sri Rama Navami Brahmotsavams here. “Next year, the festival would see grandeur 10 times more,” he said.

The deserted atmosphere in the temple town is something that the people could not digest here.

Image Source: gotirupati.com