Sirimanothsavam
Sirimanothsavam, is a festival organized to propitiate Goddess Pyddithallamma of Vizianagram Town. Siri means "goddess Lakshmi in other words wealth and prosperity " and manu means "trunk" or "log". The priest of the temple, while taking procession between the fort and temple three times in the evening, hangs from the tip of the long, lean wooden staff, raised high into the sky. The priest possessed by the goddess would himself tell a few days before, where this manu would be available. It is from that place only the log has to be procured. Hanging from the upper end of the staff, which is raised high into the sky, is a very risky exercise, but it is believed that the grace of the Goddess protects the priest from falling off. It is held in the month of September or October of every year. It is a great carnival attended by two to three lakhs of people from the neighboring towns and villages. The Rajas of Vizianagaram oversee the arrangements for this event. The APSRTC runs about 250 buses from different parts of the state to facilitate transport of devotees to Vizianagram to attend this festival.
History
It was during 1757, when the king Pusapati Peda Vijaya Rama Raju of Vizianagaram was busy in the Battle of Bobbili, second Anand has taken the charge of crown and died in the year 1760. His wife also died along with him in Sati (practice). Then the wife of Peda Vijaya Rama Raju, Rani Chandrayamma has adopted Vijaya Rama Raju who belonged to Vizianagaram dynasty as per history.If we go through the history of 104 temples constructed by Vizianagar Sanstan some history of those temples can be known by virtue of their location. But there is no specific history about Sri Pydithalli Ammavaru temple constructed by this sansthan. According to local legend, Pydithalli Ammavaru is the Grama Devata of Vizianagaram. Some say that this Ammavaru is a sister of Maharanis of Vizianagaram. But there are many evidences that Pydithalli Ammvaru belongs to Vizianagaram dynasty. Even though there are no reliable evidence about birth and other details of Pydimamba, as per the local legend, an idol of Pydimamba was found on the west side of Pedda Cheruvu of Vizianagaram on the first Tuesday, following Vijaya Dasami after completion of battle of Bobbili.
It was in 1750 when the French leader Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau was staying with entire battalion near Hyderabad. Many soldiers died due to Small Pox. He was going through a financial crisis. Peda Vijaya Rama Raju of Vizianagaram helped him to overcome it and rebuild his battalion. In 1756 Bussy visited Rajahmundry. It is rumored that Vijaya Rama Raju gave a warm welcome to Bussy at Rajahmundry.
At that time Bobbili Maharajas were more powerful. There are some differences between Bobbili and Vizianagaram Rajas. Because of those differences and some other reasons Battle of Bobbili started on 23 January 1757. During the battle entire Bobbili fort got destroyed and many Bobbili soldiers died in the battle. The wife of Vijaya Rama Raju and Sister Sri. Pydimamba tried to stop the battle by hearing the news but were not successful. By that time, only Sri Pydimamba, sister of Vijayaramaraju was suffering from Small Pox. While she was in the puja of Goddess she learned that Vijayaramaraju was in trouble. She wanted to inform her brother regarding this and tried to convey the message through Vizianagaram soldiers, but every one was in the battle. She started with Patiwada Appalanaidu to convey the message in a horse cart. But, by that time, she got the news that his brother Vijaya Rama Raju died in the hands of Tandrapapa Rayudu, She became unconscious. Patiwada Applanaidu sprinkled water over her face and she regained consciousness and told Appalanaidu that she will not live anymore and She is going to merge with the village Goddess. Her statue will be found at the west bank of Pedda Cheruvu. The fishermen found the idol of Pydimamba and constructed a temple called Vanam Gudi for goddess, opposite to Vizianagaram Railway Station which was the first temple for Pydimamba, the second temple is located at Three Lanterns junction.