‘Sita Rama Kalyanam’ to begin with turmeric grinding ceremony at Vontimitta on March 25

The 'Sri Sita Rama Kalyana Mahotsavam' festival begins with a turmeric grinding ceremony in Vontimitta on March 25.

The State-sponsored annual festival ‘Sri Sita Rama Kalyana Mahotsavam’ at the ancient Kodandaramalayam in Vontimitta will begin with ‘Haridra Ghatana’, the traditional turmeric grinding ceremony, on March 25 (Wednesday).

After offering special prayers inside the temple’s sanctum sanctorum to the sacred turmeric rhizomes and the grinding stones (Rolu and Rokali), a large number of women will participate in the ritual and traditionally grind the turmeric, on the first day. This will signal the launch of the preparations for the divine wedding of Sita and Rama.

The turmeric powder obtained from this ritual will be mixed with rice, which will be used to prepare the sacred ‘Thalambralu’ for the wedding.

Meanwhile, the ‘Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam’, the sacred process of cleansing the inner precincts of the temple, was conducted on Tuesday. This purificatory ritual sets in motion the conduct of the annual Brahmotsavams scheduled to be held from March 27 to April 5.

As part of the festivities, the temples of Anjaneya and Garuda, the temple premises, the walls, ceilings and puja materials were cleansed with water. Later, a mixture of aromatic ingredients such as ‘Namakoppu’, ‘Srichurnam’, Kasturi turmeric, betel leaves, edible camphor, sandalwood powder and vermilion was smeared on the walls.