Ugadi celebrations begin with fervour

Kurnool: The five-day Ugadi Mahotsavams began at Srisailam temple with religious fervour on Thursday. The temple priests, Veda Pandits and the temple officials offered prayers and entered sanctum sanctorum with Puja articles.

Later, they performed Maha Ganapathi puja seeking God’s blessings for the Ugadi Mahotsavams. On the occasion, the Archakas and Veda Pandits read out a sankalpam for the well-being of the nation.

After the sankalpam process, they performed Kankana Puja and later they tied the Kankanams. They also lit Akhanda Deepam for the cleansing of the temple surroundings. Vastu puja and Mandapaaradhana was also performed.

At the end of the day, special Kunkumarchana and Navavarchana pujas were also performed. In view of heavy influx of devotees, the temple authorities have created all facilities to meet their needs.

Adequate number of staff were also drafted to take care of the devotees at queue complexes, queue lines, temple premises, prasadam counters, drinking water centres, and at resting shelters.

A control room to monitor CCTV cameras was set up at the premises of Annadana Bhavan. Temple Executive Officer (EO) Narayana Bharath Gupta has monitored the arrangements from the control room and suggested the staff to address the problems of the devotees. The devotees in queue lines and complexes were supplied with fresh drinking water, butter milk, mini-meals and upma.

With the supply of the food and water, elderly persons, pregnant women, diabetic patients and small children would get relief, the EO stated. With the support and coordination of Karnataka devotees group, Annadanam (food supply) programme was arranged at various places on temple premises.