Preparations for the prestigious Makarajyothi Mahotsavam began on Monday at the Sri Swamy Ayyappa Temple in Narsipatnam, where the three-day religious festival will be held from January 14 to 16. The arrangements were formally inaugurated by Municipal Councillor Chintakayala Rajesh, in the presence of temple committee members and Ayyappa devotees.
The temple premises witnessed a devotional atmosphere as special prayers and rituals were performed for Lord Ayyappa to mark the beginning of the festival arrangements. As part of the inaugural event, pamphlets detailing the festival schedule were released. Devotees and committee members offered prayers, seeking divine blessings for the smooth and successful conduct of the celebrations.
Speaking on the occasion, Councillor Chintakayala Rajesh said that the Ayyappa Seva Sangham has been organising the Makarajyothi Mahotsavam every year since 1983, making it a long-standing spiritual tradition in Narsipatnam. He noted that the festival not only strengthens devotion among followers but also spreads positive values across society. Expressing confidence, he said that with the blessings of Lord Ayyappa, this year’s celebrations would be conducted peacefully and on a grand scale. He urged devotees to attend in large numbers and seek the divine blessings of the deity.
Later, members of the temple committee shared detailed information about the festival programmes. They said that special poojas and panchamrita abhishekams would be performed every morning throughout the three days. On January 15 (Thursday) at 5 pm, a grand Rath Yatra of Lord Ayyappa will be held, accompanied by traditional Kerala percussion instruments and bhajan troupes. The procession is expected to draw a large number of devotees from the town and nearby areas.
On the same day at 7 pm, prominent personalities from Narsipatnam who have excelled in various fields will be honoured. Those to be felicitated include IAS officer M. Bharadwaj, currently serving as Joint Collector in Sri Sathya Sai district; IPS officer Killada Satyanarayana, presently working as an IG in Uttar Pradesh; noted music director Koti; popular singer Mano; and film actor Sri Sathya Sai Srinivas. The evening will also feature a musical programme by Roshan Lal Orchestra and classical dance performances by the Gajamukha Dance Academy.
The final day of the festival, January 16 (Friday), will feature a special entertainment programme titled ‘Dance Baby Dance’, organised by Balu Riders, with renowned choreographer Pandu Master and artists famous from television shows such as Jabardasth and Dhee.
Temple committee members said that Speaker Ayyannapatrudu and his spouse, TDP State General Secretary Chintakayala Vijay and his spouse, and Councillor Chintakayala Rajesh and his spouse will attend the three-day celebrations as chief guests.
