Mukkoti Ekadasi, also known as Mukkoti Festival or Vaikunta Ekadashi, is observed on Dhanurmasa Shukla Paksha Ekadashi day in Andhra Pradesh. Teppotsavam 2012 date during Mukkoti Festival is January 4. Mukkoti Ekadasi is celebrated in a grand manner at Bhadrachalam Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Teppotsavam is the major event along with Dashavatara Alankaram rituals. During Vykunta Ekadasi which is celebrated for 10 days during December-January, Teppotsavam attracts a large number of devotees from all over India, mainly from surrounding states like Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
During Teppotsavam, the presiding deities of Bhadrachalam Sri Sita Ramachandra swamy temple are decorated with jewelries and flower garlands and taken on Hamsa Vahanam or a boat designed like swan. Teppotsavam is a float festival or celestial cruise of the presiding deities in Godavari waters. Temple priests recite vedic hymns during Teppotsavam festival.
