Rathotsavams held at Srisailam, Srikalahasti

Srisailam (Kurnool): On the ninth day of annual Sivaratri Brahmotsavams, Rathotsavam was conducted at Srisailam on Monday. The chariot bedecked with flowers was taken out in a procession on the main streets of Srisailam amid lakhs of devotees. The processional deity Mallikarjuna Swamy was seated atop the chariot on the premises of the temple as per rituals. At the prescribed auspicious time, the priests started the procession. The large gathering of devotees, all at a time, started pulling the mammoth wooden chariot and it started inching ahead. The chariot was then slowly and steadily dragged around the streets encircling the temple precincts. The temple town was reverberated with the chants of "Om Namahsivaya." The devotees paid their obeisance to the deity by hurling bananas on the chariot as per tradition. The chariot was drawn back to the temple after reaching Nandi mandapam. Devotees across from state and Karnataka witnessed the holy event. Tirupati: Over three lakh devotees from across the State and neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka thronged Lord Shiva temple at Srikalahasti for the much-sought after Lingodhbhava Darshan in the wee hours of Monday. The temple is popular as the Rahu-Ketu Kshetra and Dakshin Kasi.