Devotees throng Mahalakshmi temple for health and prosperity

Long queues of devotees were witnessed early in the morning at Sri Nagarala Sitharama Swamy Sri Mahalakshmi Ammavari Devasthanam, Chiitinagar on the fifth day of the Dasara Navaratri festivity.

The presiding deity was adorned as Goddess Sri Annapoorna Devi with a feeding bowl and spatula or ladle in her hands to serve food and Lord Siva stands at her doorstep asking her for food.

Explaining the significance of the temple to The Hans India on Saturday, Temple Chairman Pothina Besikanteswarudu said that in the end of the 18th century the place was under the leadership of British Government.

At that time, majority of the people were affected with cholera and plague. Goddess Mahalakshmi appeared in the dream of a devotee and ordered him to construct the temple at the place.

In 1897 a temple was constructed by the Nagarala community at the place. From then, the deity is being considered a goddess for better health. Besides, Dasara Navaratri Utasavalu was celebrated on a grand scale at the temple premises.

Ashtotras, Sahasra Nama Pujas and Kunkuma pooja were offered to the presiding deity by the women. Curd rice with Onion is the special ‘Naivaidyam’ offered to the goddess during the festivity, he said.