Nagalapuram temple fest from March 24

The festival attracts thousands of devotees from all over the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The unique feature of the festival is the falling of the sun’s rays on the presiding deity of Lord Sri Vedanarayana situated inside the sanctum sanctorum which occurs only during these five days. 

Travelling a distance of 630 feet from the temple tower, the rays of the setting sun slowly enter the main threshold and further into the ‘Garbagriha’ and stops at the deity’s feet, navel and crown on the first, second and third days respectively. As it occurs never again in other parts of the year, it is considered an astronomical marvel. The event is also viewed as a form of the Sun paying obeisance to the Lord and hence is called Surya Pooja. 

The annual five-day Teppotsavams will also be observed in this temple from March 24 to 28 with the processional deities taking celestial ride on the finely decked float in the temple tank every day between 6 30 and 7 30 pm, TTD sources said. 

On the first day, Sri Devi Bhu Devi Sametha Sri Vedanarayana Swamy, second day-Sri Goda Devi Sametha Sri Vedanarayana Swamy, third day-Sri Sita Lakshmana Sametha Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy and on fourth and fifth days also Vedanarayana Swamy will ride on float. 

In connection with Matsya Jayanthi on March 30, special pooja will be held.