KAKINADA: Marking the Ratha Saptami festival and the commencement of Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Kalyanotsavam, dedicated to Lord Surya, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy participated in a ritual to consecrate the newly constructed the seven-storey 41-feet tall ratham in the Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Antarvedi in Konaseema. The Kalyanotsavam will be celebrated till the month-end.
The Chief Minister, along with ministers Vellampalli Srinivas, Kurasala Kannababu, Pinepe Viswaroop, Chelluboyina Venugopal Krishna and Kakinada MP Vanga Gita dragged the chariot as a mark of consecration.
The more than 60-year-old temple chariot was gutted in the early hours of September 6 last year, triggering controversy in the state. The state government built a new chariot at a cost of Rs 1.16 crore with a ‘hydraulic braking system’.
Soon after reaching the temple, Jagan Mohan Reddy had darshan of the God and Goddess Rajyalakshmi, and priests felicitated…