Devotees throng Simhachalam for `Nijarupa Darshanam' Visakhapatnam, May 6 (INN): Lakhs of devotees thronged Simhachalam to mark the annual `Chandanotsavam' of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy on Friday. Chandanotsavam is the ritual of removing the sandalwood paste which covers the idol of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy through the year. The day is known as Vaisakha Suddhatadiya and the only time of the year that the devotees are able to have `Nijarupa Darshanam' of the idol.
Lakhs of devotees lined up at the temple even before the annual ritual commenced in the early hours of Friday. The sandalwood paste covering was removed during the two-hour ceremony before devotees were allowed for darshan of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.
As per the tradition, members of the erstwhile Vizianagaram royal family had the first darshan. P Ashok Gajapathi Raju and P Ananda Gajapathiraju and their family entered the sanctum sanctorum carrying sandalwood paste to have the darshan.
They were followed by Minister for Tribal Welfare P Balaraju, who presented silk clothes to the Lord on behalf of the State Government. From then on, the devotees were allowed to have darshan.
Union Minister of State for Defence Pallam raju also had the Nijarupa darshan of the idol and performed special pujas. According to temple authorities, more than 1.5 lakh devotees had the Nijarupa Darshan of Lord Narasimha this time. Meanwhile, the Devasthanam has made arrangements for mass feeding of 25,000 devotees.
News Posted: 6 May, 2011
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