Andhra Pradesh : Hundreds throng the Antarvedi Festival

Hundreds of devotees thronged Narsapuram town for taking part in Antarvedi festival on the banks of River Vasistha in East Godavari district.

Antarvedi, is 10-km from Narasapur (West Godavari district) by boat and 24-km from Razole by road. The Shrine of Sri ‘Lakshminarasimhaswami’ at this place is of religious importance. The Lakshminarasimhaswami Kalyanam celebrated on the Bhishma Ekadasi day during January-February,Antarvedi fair is held on this occasion and lakhs of people attend the celebrations. c. Devotees come here to have a holy dip in the ‘Sapta Sagara Sangama Pradesam’ (the confluence of the sea and the ‘Vasishta Godavari’, one of the seven branches of Godavari), as it is believed that all their sins will be washed away by a single dip in the holy river.

The devotees reached Narsapuram and boarded the punts arranged at Valandhar Revu Ghat to go to the festival at Antarvedi. The devotees boarded the punt to go to Antharvedi where the Rathotsavam of Lord Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy would be organised in the temple, situated at the confluence of River Vasistha and Bay of Bengal.

The devotees from Krishna, West Godavari, Guntur districts and other states reached the Valandhar Revu Ghat in the morning. They offered prayers to the River Vasistha before boarding the punt.  Most of the devotees were women in thousands, who thronged the ghat, waiting for their turn to board the punt.

The ‘Kalyanotsavasm’ (celestial wedding) of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy was performed in the temple late Saturday night which was witnessed by thousands of pilgrims.  On Sunday, Lord’s Raathotsavam was performed witnessed by thousands of devotees.

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