Maha Shivaratri fete at Mallikarjuna Temple

 Jeedimetla Village: On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, the devotees are seen forming lines outside the Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple to worship Lord Mallikarjuna. The temple administration and local police have made necessary arrangements for the smooth flow of devotees and to avoid any commotion.
 
The temple administration has been celebrating the festival from the past 48 years. It is a two-day celebration that started on Monday.

Kalayanam (religious marriage) is performed to the deity on Tuesday, and it is followed by Mallanna jathara. It is a journey in a palki (palanquin) carrying the deity nicely decorated. Every year, there is a small fair on the temple premises where children have gala time.
 
On the occasion, priests performed Maha Rudrabhishekam on the first day of the festival for about 3 to 4 hours in the evening and the priests also tied a sacred cloth to the goddess.

As many as 25,000 devotees come from the Qutubullapur area to attend the two-day festival. They have been maintaining the old tradition religiously without missing a single step since years. On Tuesday, two elderly sheep will be sacrificed after the yagna is performed.

After the completion of the puja, thousands of poor will be served with free food. The volunteers serve them with full dedication and ensure that no one goes with empty stomach.