Millions of devotees converged on Vizianagaram for the annual Sirimanu Utsavam of Goddess Sri Paiditalli — and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu marked the occasion with a heartfelt message to the people of the state on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, calling the festival a living symbol of North Andhra's spiritual soul.

Writing in Telugu, Naidu described the Sirimanu Utsavam as a reflection of 'our spiritual faith, traditions passed down through generations, and the cultural glory of Vizianagaram.' He prayed that the blessings of Ammavari — the presiding goddess — bring the people of Andhra Pradesh long life, good health, happiness, and prosperity.

Uttarandhra's Beloved Goddess and Her Grand Festival

Goddess Sri Paiditalli is venerated as the aradhya daivam (presiding deity) of Uttarandhra — the northern coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh that encompasses Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts. The Sirimanu Utsavam is her signature annual chariot festival, drawing lakhs of devotees from across the region each year in a spectacle of faith, colour, and community. Naidu's message called it 'our heritage wealth' — a phrase that speaks to how deeply the festival is woven into regional identity.

Vizianagaram has long carried a reputation as a centre of cultural and historical prestige in coastal Andhra, associated with its royal family and a strong tradition of classical arts. The Sirimanu festival amplifies that identity every year, turning the town into a gathering point for an entire region's devotion.

Political Leaders and the Language of Regional Faith

Indian political leaders routinely acknowledge major local religious festivals — but the register of Naidu's message is worth noting. He did not merely extend greetings; he framed the festival as a matter of civilisational continuity, invoking tara-taralauga vastuunna sampradayaalu (traditions coming down through generations). For a Chief Minister whose constituency spans the whole state, anchoring that message to Uttarandhra's distinct cultural identity is a deliberate act of regional affirmation.

As the Telugu Desam Party national president, Naidu has long positioned TDP as the custodian of Telugu cultural pride. Festival messages of this kind — specific, regional, rooted in local devotion — are part of how that narrative is maintained at the grassroots level.

The true measure of this year's festival will be the scale of participation on the streets of Vizianagaram — a number that, year after year, only seems to grow.