Over 3 lakh devotees expected to visit Kotappakonda temple

Guntur:  Over three lakh devotees are expected to visit Sri Trikooteswara Swamy temple on the hillock of the Kotappakonda on the occasion of Maha Sivaratri on March. 4. The festivities are also named as Kotappakoda Jatara.

The district administration and Devastanam authorities are  making  arrangements for the convenience of the devotees visiting the temple. Special queues were set up for the convenience of the devotees.  

A 73-ft Lord Vinayaka idol, which is under construction on the hill of the temple, is expected to be completed within two- days. The temple authorities spent Rs.50 lakh to set up the Lord Ganesha Idol, which can even be visible from Chilakaluripet town.

The temple officials said to The Hans India that Lord Ganesha Idol construction work is nearing completion.  At present painting work is going on and it will be completed in two days. The construction of four-storeyed permanent queue complex for free darshan is on also nearing  completion. 

For the convenience of devotees, the government has taken up rope way work, which will be completed in a couple of months. The temple authorities decided to distribute one-lakh number of half-litre drinking water bottles to the devotees.

The SBI is sponsoring 10,000 butter milk packets. The Devastanam officials prepared two lakh laddus and one  lakh  Arisa prasadam. Two lifts were arranged by the temple officials for the convenience of devotees.

The APSRTC will operate buses to top of the hill from Kotappakonda.  It is also plying 1,000 special buses to various Saiva Kshetras.  The Medical and Health Department is taking care of sanitation and would conduct free medical camps and five ambulances are kept ready.

The Irrigation Department  will release water to Chilakaluripet major canal from Nagarjunasagar and the RWS department has taken steps for water supply and setting up temporary toilets for the devotees visiting the temple.

Assembly Speaker Dr Kodela Siva Prasada Rao said, "More devotees are expected this year to visit the temple for Maha Sivaratri. The officials are conducting the review meeting due to election code of conduct. Rope way work is expected to be completed in two or three months. The government  will develop the Kotappakonda as eco-tourism centre." 

Kotappakonda temple EO T Byragi Chowdary said, "The government declared Kotappakonda festivities as State festival. But it has not released the promised Rs 30 lakhs of last year and also for this year for Jatara."