Devotees take holy dip in Godavari

Rajamahendravaram: Thousands of devotees took a holy dip in River Godavari since the wee hours of Monday, in connection with Maha Shivaratri festival. All the bathing ghats were crowded with the devotees and the officials experienced a tough time to control the crowds at the ghats.

Serpentine queues were seen at the temples and abhishekams were performed from the midnight of Sunday at Uma Marakendeya Swamy Temple, Visweswara Swamy Temple, Uma Kotilingeswara Swamy Temple, Veereswara Swamy Temple, Sarandhareswara Swamy Temple and other temples in the city.

The temple managements arranged pandals and queue lines for hassle-free darshan in the respective temples.

The five kilometres stretch of Godavari bund was crowded with the devotees and movement of vehicles was stopped on the bund. All the streets in the city are also crowded with the devotees.

Meanwhile, many devotees participated in the Radhotsavam of Uma Kotilingeswara Swamy.

Municipal Corporation arranged necessary lighting, drinking water, dress changing rooms and provided necessary sanitation staff along with first aid centres at the ghats. 

Many non-governmental organisations, individuals and managements of business establishments distributed milk, anna prasadam, drinking water, meals etc freely to the devotees.