What happened on Day 1 of Ayutha Chandi Maha Yagam in Telangana

Hyderabad: Clad in prescribed dress for the religious ceremony, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, his wife and other family members, some Cabinet colleagues, Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh ESL Narasimhan and his wife took part in the rituals on the first day of the `Ayutha Chandi Maha Yagam` on Wednesday.

Rao was today accorded a traditional welcome at the yagashala (the place where the religious rituals are conducted) when he arrived there. He circumambulated the yagashala before performing Guru Prarthana in front of the idol of Chandi Maata, a release from his office said.

The Guru Prarthana marked the beginning of the yagam rituals on the first day, it said.

Gou puja (worshipping the cow), Maha Mantapa Sthapanam (installation of the bigger hall), Chandi yantra lekhanam (prayer to remove obstacles), among others, formed part of the rituals on the first day, the release said.

While leading the Telangana movement four years ago, KCR had vowed to organise the religious event if a separate state became a reality.

Arrangements for Ayutha Chandi Maha Yagam

Massive arrangements have been made at Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's 120-acre farmhouse at Erravalli in Medak district near Hyderabad for the prayers, being held for world peace and public wellbeing.

About 2,000 priests from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are taking part in the mega yagam being performed for universal peace.

Over 3,000 policemen have been deployed around the venue and closed-circuit television cameras installed within a radius of five kilometres.

Five helipads and parking arrangements for 20,000 vehicles have also been made near the venue.

Arrangements have been made to provide `prasad` and food to 50,000 people every day during the yagam.

As many as 4,000 kg of cow ghee, 20 tonnes of moduga firewood (Butca Frondosa) and 12 tonnes of `payasam` (rice boiled in sweetened milk) are among the materials to be used in the yagam.

Separate seating arrangements for 10,000 people have been made to watch the prayers on giant screens. Another marquee has been set up for 2,000 women to perform the rituals.

(With Agency inputs)