Devotees throng Shaivite shrines in Tirupati district on Maha Sivaratri
The Hindu
Shaivite shrines in Tirupati district witness devotees for Maha Sivaratri festival, with special offerings and celebrity visits.
A steady of stream of devotees was witnessed in all major Shaivite shrines located in Tirupati district on the occasion of Maha Sivaratri festival on Wednesday.
Srikalahasti, revered as ‘Dakshina Kashi’, was attended by thousands of devotees from all over, including the neighbouring States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Several devotees thronged the temple well in advance to take a glimpse of ‘Lingodbhava Darshan’ to be conducted in the early hours of Thursday.
Earlier, Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy had announced to provide a ‘Saarey’, a set of goodies comprising auspicious items such as blouse bit, turmeric, vermilion and bangles, to the women devotees as a prasadam from Goddess Gnana Prasunambika. Meanwhile, TTD trust board member and Kovur MLA Vemireddy Prashanthi Reddy has offered to sponsor the sets, irrespective of the number. She offered prayers at the temple early on Wednesday. Similarly, TTD trust board chairman B.R. Naidu also prayed at the shrine.
Though Tirupati is famous for Sri Venkateswara temple, it is surrounded by many Siva temples on its south, abutting the river Swarnamukhi. Sri Parasurameswara temple in Gudimallam, Sri Parasareswara temple in Yogimallavaram, Sri Valmikeswara temple in Durgasamudram, Agastheswara Swamy in Thondavada and Mulasthaneswara temple in Gajulamandyam were thronged by thousands of devotees.
In Tirupati, Sri Kapileswara Swamy temple in Kapila Theertham, Jeevalingeswara Swamy temple in Jeevakona witnessed heavy devotee footfall. Similarly, the Siddheswara Swamy temple located deep inside the Talakona forest was also thronged by many.
Veteran film star Manchu Mohan Babu visited Srikalahasti temple accompanied by his son and actor Manchu Vishnu, choreographer-turned-director Prabhu Deva, lyricist Ramajogayya Sastri among others and released the trailer of Mr. Vishnu’s upcoming film Kannappa.
MLA Bojjala Sudheer Reddy and temple trust board former chairman Kola Anand formally ushered them into the temple and arranged darshan.
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