Sirimanotsavam is the great festival of Sri Paidithalli Ammavaru, the guardian goddess of Vizianagaram. On the first Tuesday after Vijayadashami, the temple priest, borne at the tip of a tall wooden pole – the Sirimanu – is carried three times between the fort and the temple, as lakhs of devotees offer their prayers.
Festival Dates
Introduction
The Sirimanotsavam is the grandest festival of Sri Paidithalli Ammavaru (Pydimamba), the guardian goddess (gramadevata) of Vizianagaram. It is held on the first Tuesday after Vijayadashami, as the high point of a month of festivities that begin in Aswayuja. The heart of the festival is the Sirimanu – a tall wooden pole, about sixty feet long, at whose tip the temple priest is carried through the town as the living presence of the Goddess. Lakhs of devotees from Vizianagaram and the north Andhra districts gather for the darshan.
Significance and Legend
According to local tradition, Paidithalli was the sister of the Vizianagaram ruler Vijaya Rama Raju of the Pusapati family. At the time of the Bobbili war of 1757, she learned of her brother's death while she herself lay ill, and told her companion that she would merge with the village goddess. Her image was later found by fishermen in the Pedda Cheruvu tank near the fort, and a temple was built for her. Each year, tradition holds, the Goddess appears in the priest's dream and shows him the tree from which that year's Sirimanu is to be made.
How it is Celebrated
- Pandirata: the festivities open in Aswayuja with the Pandirata ceremony at the temple, and the priest and many devotees take up a mandala deeksha.
- Tolella Utsavam: on the evening before the Sirimanotsavam, the Tolella festival is celebrated with special worship of the Goddess.
- The Sirimanu procession: in the afternoon of the main day, the Sirimanu – with the priest seated at its tip – is carried three times between the Vizianagaram fort and the Paidithalli temple, accompanied by the white-elephant chariot and the Anjali chariot carrying five married women. Devotees greet the Sirimanu with offerings and cries of devotion as it passes.
- Afterwards: the festival continues with the Teppotsavam and other rituals, ending with the completion of the deeksha.
Rituals and Puja
- Mandala deeksha by the priest and devotees in the weeks before the festival.
- Darshan of Paidithalli Ammavaru at the Chaduru Gudi (main temple) and the Vanam Gudi.
- Offerings of turmeric, kumkum, saris and lamps in fulfilment of vows.
Foods and Offerings
- Fruits and flowers offered to the Goddess during the festival.
- Pongali, turmeric, kumkum and saris for the Goddess.
Temples Known for this Festival
The festival is centred on the Sri Paidithalli Ammavari temples in Vizianagaram – the Chaduru Gudi near the fort and the Vanam Gudi beside the Pedda Cheruvu.
The Tolella and Sirimanotsavam dates are shown in the festival dates above. The Sirimanotsavam is held on the first Tuesday after Vijayadashami.