Mukkoti Vaikunta Ekadasi : Devotees throng Chikkadpally temple

Musheerabad: Vaikunta Ekadasi was celebrated with religious fervour at the noted Venkateshwara Temple at Chikkadpally on Tuesday. 

The temple premises wore a festive look with decorative musical lightings and the deity was beautifully adorned with flowers on the auspicious occasion. 

Devotees were allowed into the temple from 4 am in the early morning after the abhishekham. 

Thousands of devotees coming from various areas of the city waited in long queues, right from the morning, thronged the temple to take the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara entering from the north door of the temple, which is referred to as Vaikunta Dwaram. 

Members of the temple committee and voluntary organizations made elaborate arrangements on the occasion and ensured that devotees didn’t face any inconvenience. 

Special attraction at the temple was the glass house in which the deities Venkateshwara and Padmavathi were kept. Devotees took darshan of the Lord amidst the chanting of ‘Govinda Govinda’.

Elaborate security arrangements were made at the temple by the temple EO Ashok Goud. Barricades, metal detectors and CC cameras were installed wherever necessary as part of security arrangements. 

Staff members of other temples were deputed for the occasion anticipating the heavy rush on the occasion. 

Various government departments such as police, electricity, municipal, R&B, water board and others cooperated with temple officials in making necessary arrangements.

Several noted politicians, officials and celebrities visited the temple. 
Musheerabad MLA Muta Gopal, BJP state president Dr K Lakshman, GHMC standing member V Srinivas Reddy, city president of TDP MN Srinivas Rao, Temples department additional commissioner Srinivas Rao, assistant commissioner A Balaji, former corporator Balraju Goud and others visited the temple. 

About 8,000 laddus were distributed to devotees and the programme was sponsored by Bharathi Cements. 

MP Malla Reddy, vice president of Bharathi cements and other officials of the company participated in the programme. 

About 200 litres of badam milk, sponsored by Vijay dental clinic and Gupta printers, was also distributed. Dr K Lakshman himself served badam milk to 
devotees.