Fervour, piety mark Maha Sivaratri

Khammam: Maha Sivaratri, the festival to honour Lord Siva, was celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervour all over the district in Khammam on Tuesday. The festival is celebrated during the month of Marghashira, according to the Hindu calendar. All temples were beautifully decorated while devotional songs were being recited round-the-clock on the premises of Siva temples.

Temple rituals ‘Rudrabhishekam’, ‘Sivapooja’, ‘Bilvaarchana’ to lord Siva and ‘Kumkumarchana’ to Ammavaru were performed by pujaris as per schedule at Sri Sri Sri Bhramarambha Sametha Sri Gunti Malleshwara Swamy Temple and at Sri Sri Sri Bhramarambha Ramalingashewara Swamy temple in Khammam city and at Sivalayam of Muddalapalli. Later, Kalyanam of Sri Parvathi and Parameshwara Swamy was performed with devotion.

Thousands of devotees thronged the temples of Lord Siva from early hours across the district to mark the occasion of Maha Sivaratri festival that symbolises the wedding day of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati. They were seen standing in long queues in front of all Siva temples and performing pooja of Lord Siva by offering holy water, flowers, Bel Patri, milk, ghee, honey, curd and other things which are dear to Mahadev. People of different age groups including children, youths and elders observed fasting to mark the occasion. 

MLA Puvvada Ajay Kumar and City Mayor Dr Papa Lal visited the ancient temple of ‘Ganapeshwaralyam’ in Kusumanchi mandal and offered special prayers on the occasion of Maha Sivaratri festival. 

Meanwhile, the district administration made elaborate arrangements for Theerthala Sangameshwara Swamy Jatara that would be held on a grand note at Raghunathapalem mandal on the occasion of Maha Sivaratri festival.

As many as 200 police personnel were deployed and CCTV cameras were installed for the smooth conduct of the Jatara. Along with two DSPs, four Circle Inspectors and 10 Sub-Inspectors supervised the programmes, said the Assistant Commissioner of Police Naresh Reddy.

The TSRTC arranged special buses for Theerthala Jatara held at Raghunathapalem, Sri Ramalingashwara Swamy Jatara held at Wyra, Mruthyunjaya Swamy Jatara held at Madhira, Kotilingala Jatara held at Karepalli and Sri Vydhyanatha Swamy Jatara held at Nelakondapalli and to other places where jataras were held at Siva temples across the district.