The Sun temple at Arasavalli getting a facelift for the Radha Saptami festival to be celebrated on February 4.
| Photo Credit: V. RAJU
Ratha Saptami celebrations will begin on February 2 (Sunday), two days before the festival on February 4, thanks to the government’s initiative to make it a three-day State festival.
Apart from the Arasavalli Sri Suryanarayana Swamy temple, the entire Srikakulam will wear a festive look from Sunday as several cultural and spiritual programmes have been planned.
Samuhika Suryanamaskarams will be performed near the temple at 6 a.m. on Sunday. As the Sun God is believed to ensure health, the Endowments Department planned the event, which is also known as sun salutation.
Helicopter rides which will begin at 9 a.m. the same day at Dutch building will be an added attraction this year. A private company will operate the helicopter rides for three days following the suggestion of Union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu.
Volleyball, weightlifting and rural sports will be organised at NTR Municipal Ground on Sunday and Monday.
Cultural events will take place from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on both days at Arts College. Musical concerts, and traditional and folk dances are expected to enthrall the audience here.
A Sobha Yatra will be organised from Day and Night junction to the Arasavalli temple at 2.30 pm on Sunday to highlight the importance and history of the temple.
Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar, who reviewed the arrangements, said special arrangements had been made to ensure a hassle-free darshan for devotees on the festival day on Tuesday.
Over 3.5 lakh people are expected to have darshan of the God in the next three days as the government has given wide publicity for the festival.
Published – February 01, 2025 07:33 pm IST