Vizianagaram brings Pydithalli Ammavaru's Sirimanotsavam forward an hour as Cyclone Arnab nears
Officials expect two lakh devotees on Tuesday, a day before the cyclone is forecast to cross the north Andhra coast.
- The Hindu
The traditional Sirimanotsavam of Sri Pydithalli Ammavaru in Vizianagaram will begin at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, an hour earlier than usual, because Cyclone Arnab is expected to cross the north Andhra coast on Wednesday morning, The Hindu reported. Vizianagaram Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy and Superintendent of Police A.R. Damodar reviewed the arrangements and directed officials to start the Sirimanu at 3 p.m. instead of 4 p.m.
According to an official statement, about two lakh people are expected to take part. Devotees from different places arrived on Monday for Tholellu, the festival that precedes the Sirimanotsavam, and the deity was decorated with flowers.
The temple authorities made arrangements for darśana in the shrine, which was recently rebuilt at an estimated cost of about ₹1.8 crore, and the paper said the new, more spacious premises helped devotees have darśana peacefully. Heavy barricades were put up on both sides of the temple for Tuesday's crowds.
Vizianagaram MLA Aditi Vijaya Lakshmi and Vidyavati Devi, daughters of Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, offered prayers in the traditional manner. They also prayed at the temples of Goddess Mahālakṣmī and Āñjaneya Svāmī inside the Vizianagaram fort, built by the Pusapati family about three centuries ago.
In the Sirimanu ritual, the temple priest is carried on the tip of a tall wooden pole between the fort and the temple three times in the evening, according to Wikipedia's account of the festival.
Key data
About 2 lakh devotees expected; start moved from 4 p.m. to 3 p.m. on 27 Oct 2026. Temple rebuilt at about ₹1.8 crore. Cyclone Arnab landfall expected 28 Oct morning.
Why it matters
Sirimanotsavam draws lakhs of devotees to a village goddess of north Andhra, and holding it safely in the path of a severe cyclone tests both faith and administration. Moving the ritual time is a small but telling adjustment of tradition to protect pilgrims.
GK: did you know?
Vizianagaram was established as the capital of the Vizianagaram estate by Raja Vijayaram Raj of the Pusapati dynasty, whose family still oversees the Sirimanotsavam.
