Devotees throng Srisailam on occasion of Maha Sivaratri

Lakhs of devotees throng Srisailam for Maha Sivaratri Brahmotsavams, with elaborate arrangements and sacred rituals.

Lakhs of devotees from across the State and country thronged Srisailam, the abode of Lord Mallikarjuna and his consort Sri Brahmarambha Devi, and Jyotirlinga Kshetra on the occasion of Maha Sivaratri Brahmotsavams, on Wednesday.

The heavy influx of devotees in Srisailam brought in a devotional fervour across the Nallamala forests. Thousands of devotees were seen trekking the hills on foot from various places along the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana border, including Podigonda, Dornala, Achampet, Makthal, and Nandikotkur. A large number of devotees wore ‘rudraksha’ beads in observance of ‘Siva Mala Deeksha’.

The officials of Srisailam temple undertook elaborate arrangements to monitor the heavy crowds. The police, in coordination with the temple authorities, had formed special queue lines, besides arranging the basic amenities and security to the pedestrian devotees. The police department in association with corporate entities and voluntary organisations undertook the distribution of free food packets, drinking water, refreshments, and milk to the devotees, particularly women, and children.

The whole area of the main temple was richly decorated with flowers and fruit, coupled with massive illumination work. Meanwhile, the sacred rituals commenced in the temple early on Wednesday, with the pilgrims taking holy dips at the Patala Ganga, before entering the darshan queue lines.

The rituals and events in the hill shrine on Maha Sivaratri day included ‘Prabhotsavam’ and ‘Nandi Vahana Seva’ in the evening. The police made heavy security arrangements for the mega event of ‘Lingodbhava Rudrabhishekam’ at night, followed by the celestial wedding of the presiding deities of Lord Mallikarjuna and Goddess Bramarambha Devi.

Meanwhile, the APSRTC deployed over 500 additional bus services to Srisailam from various depots in the State. The TSRTC, on the other hand, kept operating the special bus services non-stop from Hyderabad.