Lakhs of devotees throng Shiva temples in Warangal

Warangal: Over 5 lakh devotees thronged Rudreshwara Swamy temple, popularly known as 1000-pillars temple on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri in Hanamkonda on Sunday. The celestial wedding of Lord Shiva with Parvathi was performed by temple priests led by Head Priest Gangu Upendra Sarma in the evening hours. Serpentine queues of devotees were seen at the temple even at the late hours. Offering prayers to Lord Shiva in temples is considered most auspicious on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. All the Shaivite temples like Ramalingeshwara Swamy also known as Ramappa temple at Palampet, Somanadeshwara Swamy temple at Palakurthy in the district also witnessed over lakh of devotees each. Women, children and families were lined up till the late hours for darshan of Lord Shiva at various temples in Warangal city. Several people visited the photo exhibition stalls set up by the Information and Public Relations (I & PR) department at 1000-Pillars temple. District popular temples, historic places, tourist spots of the district were put on the display. DPRO Venkataramana said that recent Kakatiya festival and developmental programmes' photos were also put on the display. Warangal MP Sircilla Rajaiah, Warangal West MLA Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar, BJP leader Marthineni Dharma Rao and district Joint Collector P S Pradyumna offered prayers to Lord Shiva at historic 1000-pillars temple. In a related programme, a photo exhibition called 'Spiritual Secret' on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri festival opened under the auspices of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris at Enugulagadda in Hanamkonda. Shiva Jayatri procession was organised by Brahma Kumaris on the occasion of the festival. DPRO Venkataramana, Brahma Kumaris' incharge Rajamagini Vimala, Suneetha, Praneetha, Saritha, Vishwanatham, Diwakar Raju, Dharma Raju, Krishna Murthy, Harshitha others took part in the programme.