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The Srirama Navami Festival at Bhadrachalam
is celebrated for ten days from 'Chaitra Suddha Saptami' to 'Bahula
Padyami'. It is Sri Rama's birthday and the Kalyanotsavam celebrated
during then attracts about three lakhs of devotees. It is a day of
festivity for "Ramabhaktas".
The Grand Wedding Celebration
The temple celebrates the celestial wedding between Rama and Sita in a
grand scale mimicking the actual event. The commentators role-play by
arrogating themselves to either the bride's (Sita's) family or the
bridegroom's (Rama's side). The role-play is complete in every aspect and
includes every small detail, as much as human feelings are attributed to
the deities - such as "Sita being shy and her cheeks blushing pink as
she approaches Rama".
These celebrations are being practised from about 400 years ago,
introduced during Tana Shah's rule continued even through the Nizam's rule
and still continue to this day. All the jewels used are those made by
'Ramadas' and the natural sea water pearls used during the wedding ritual
of 'Talambralu' still comes from an endowment created by the Nizam's
trust.
This event is telecast live both on All India Radio and on Television for
nearly three hours with good description in the commentary. The chief
minister of the State also attends the Kalyanotsavam.
Rail: The nearest railway station is at Kottagudem, which is
around 40-km from here.
Road: APSRTC operates buses from Bhadrachalam to other important
towns/cities in A.P. Regular buses are available from Kothagudem,
Khammam, Tenali,
Warangal,
Hyderabad and
Tirupati .