Srikalahasti gears up for Sivaratri Brahmotsavams

Tirupati: Srikalahasti temple well known as ‘Vayulinga Kshethram’ is getting ready with beautiful decorations for the mega annual event of Maha Sivaratri  Brahmotsavams which will begin on February 8 and will conclude on February 20.

The temple has been tastefully decorated with colourful LED bulbs and big rangolis with paints. This time Kalahastheeswara Swamy will ride on gold plated vehicles and eight vahanas were ready to serve Lord Shiva during auspicious Brahmotsavams which will become another attraction this year. There was hectic activity at Srikalahasti with all the works are nearing completion and most of them getting finishing touches.

As there was no trust board for the temple now, entire responsibility fell on the Executive Officer D Bhramaramba, who was taking all measures leaving no stone unturned as far as the convenience of pilgrims is concerned. District Collector PS Pradyumna visited the temple to examine the arrangements last week and convened a review meeting with all concerned. 

Keeping in mind last year’s turnout of devotees which witnessed about 1.5 lakh, the officials were predicting that this year this figure may cross two-lakh mark on Maha Sivaratri  day. Arrangements and maintenance of queue lines was planned to provide satisfactory darshan to all these devotees.

It was already decided to provide only Maha Laghu darshan both for VIPs and ordinary devotees and no one will be allowed to go near sanctum sanctorum. Devotees will go for darshan in three parallel lines as against two lines last year. 

Along with free darshan, Rs 50, 200 and Rs 500 ticket holders can see Lord Siva from the same distance, the EO and Collector have announced. Endowments Commissioner YV Anuradha also visited the temple two days ago and gave instructions to the EO on maintenance of queue lines and other issues.

On the other hand, local MLA Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy conducted a review meeting with temple, civic, police and other department officials and reviewed the progress of various works. Though there were 78 toilets in the temple additionally 134 mobile toilets will be arranged for the convenience of pilgrims.

Milk, water and breakfast will be served in queue lines and Nithya Annadanam will be provided till 9 pm daily. No private vehicle will be allowed near the temple and Devasthanam officials have arranged 20 free buses to carry pilgrims from bus stand, railway station and parking places at SKIT and AP Seeds Corporation.

These buses will be operated round the clock. Steps were taken to keep prasadams ready for the huge inflow of devotees. Bhakta Kannappa temple on a hillock was totally renovated and Kumbabhi shekam will be performed on Wednesday. 

The Brahmotsavams starts with Kannappa Dwajarohanam only on Thursday, which will be followed by Lord Siva’s Dwajarojahanam on the next day. Apart from Sivaratri  on February 13, Rathotsavam on 14 and Kalyanotsavam on 15 were most important festivals during the entire events. On all the days, cultural programmes will be conducted to entertain pilgrims for which elaborate arrangements were made.

By V Pradeep Kumar