Andhra Pradesh: Varalakshmi Vratham celebrated at Sri Venkateswara temple with pomp

AMARAVATI: Varalakshmi Vratham was celebrated on a massive scale at Sri Bhusametha Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Dokiparru village of Gudlavalleru mandal in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of last Friday of auspicious Sravana month.
Hundreds of women devotees participated in the special prayers held in the temple premises. Temple founder trustee Sudha Reddy and temple management committee members P Veerareddy, Vijayalakshmi, K Bapireddy, Vijayabhaskaramma led the prayers.
The temple premises, which is known as Mahakshetram, glittered with colourful lights and lively flowers. The temple committee distributed the puja material to all the devotees who participated in the pujas.

With the temple complex was fully packed with the devotees, the management laid special tents to facilitate the waiting devotees. The entire village was decorated with special lights on the occasion.
The priests performed the special prayers by chanting vedic hymns and mantras by following rituals. They explained the significance of Varalakshmi Vratham and offering special pujas on Sravana Friday.
Priests said that special pujas during the month of Sravana would bless the women to have long married life with prosperity. The pujas would also help family grow with children and grandchildren, said the priests.
The temple management had also performed Sri Lakshmi Yagam, Mahasanthi Homam in the temple in the morning session. The Anna Prasadam was also served to the devotees on the occasion. About 3,000 devotees attended the Varalakshmi vratham pujas that lasted for about three hours.
Students from Ghantasala Music and Dance College of Vijayawada performed stunning cultural programmes at the specially erected dais near Koneru in the temple. The Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam performed by the students left the devotees spellbound.
Meanwhile, the temple committee announced the Hanuman Chalisa recitation would be held in the temple on Saturday.
A team of devotees, led by National Hanuman Chalisa group president Venkata Subba Rao, would recite Hanuman chalisa for 108 times. Utlotsvam would also be held on Saturday in connection with Sri Krishnashtami celebrations.