Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu performing yoga on 80 Feet Road of Srikakulam on Monday.
| Photo Credit: Q

Ratha Sapthami, being celebrated as a three-day State festival this time, began on a grand note on Sunday (February 2), which witnessed various cultural events, samuhika namaskarams, sobha yatra and helicopter ride among others.

Thousands thronged Arasavalli Sri Suryanarayana Swamy temple, all decked up with flower decorations. Chief priest Shankar Sarma and other priests performed special prayers at the temple, where devotees took part in surya namaskaram.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Srikakulam MLA Gondu Shankar and others performed yoga on 80 Feet Road and advised the people to do it regularly for good health. Mr. Rammohan Naidu said the State government gave top priority to Arasavalli Suryanarayana Swamy temple by declaring Ratha Saptami a three-day State festival.

District Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar, Superintendent of Police K.V. Maheswar Reddy and revenue divisional officers K. Sai Pratyusha and M. Krishnamurthy took a ride in a helicopter to encourage the public to utilise the opportunity, provided for the first time on the occasion of the festival. People thronged the Dutch building to experience a helicopter ride, for which ₹1,800 was collected per person for an eight minutes trip.

Rural sports, volleyball and Kabaddi tournaments were organised on the NTR municipal grounds, and cultural events enthralled the audience on Srikakulam Degree College ground.

The sobha yatra, organised from 80 Feet Road to the temple premises, showcased Srikakulam’s history, culture, tradition and art forms.

Mr. Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar told The Hindu that the devotees would have a hassle-free darshan on Monday (February 3) and Tuesday (February 4) as well as the district administration had made ample arrangements, including widening of roads and different queue lines for donors and others. He said special care was taken to prevent mass gathering of people at one location, in the backdrop of tragic incidents that occurred in different parts of the country during religious congregations.

He urged devotees to have darshan of the presiding deity Sri Suryanarayana Swamy on Monday itself instead of waiting till Ratha Saptami day (Tuesday). “We have arranged ambulances, fire fighting equipment and teams of volunteers as part of precautionary measures. All the senior officials will monitor the situation in different locations constantly and take necessary steps to ensure a happy darshan of the Sun God for every one in the next couple of days,” he added.