Gaiety, fervour mark Ugadi fest

Kurnool: Sri Durmukhi Ugadi was celebrated with gaiety and religious fervour in the district on Friday. People dressed in their traditional best, started visiting temples from the early hours of the day to begin the Telugu New Year on an auspicious note.
The main function was held at Sunayana Auditorium on the Collectorate premises, where Panchanga Sravanam was held. Vedic scholars predicted that the Telugu New Year augurs well for the district. All the district officials attended the Ugadi celebrations. Braving the hot summer, people visited the temples in large numbers to seek the blessings of their favourite gods and goddesses on the occasion.
Sri Sunkulamma temple at Nagalapuram and Sri Chowdeshwari Devi temple at Nandavaram witnessed a heavy rush of devotees. The temples of village goddesses were packed with devotees. After fulfilling their vows as per tradition, devotees made offerings to the goddesses.
Hundreds of roosters were sacrificed at the temples of village goddesses in the district. It was a field day for poultry workers who charged a huge sum to dress the sacrificed roosters. According to temple officials, the devotee turnout was high this time compared to last year.
Srisailam: Srisaila Devasthanam was fully packed with devotees on Friday to mark Sri Durmukhi Ugadi. The temple attracted lakhs of pilgrims from all parts of South India.
Thousands of Kannadigas and Maharashtrians worshipped Lord Mallikarjuna and Goddess Bhramaramba on the auspicious occasion. The temple authorities allowed darshan at 5.30 am after performing special rituals. All the queue lines were filled. There was a sea of humanity at the famous Shaivite shrine. It took six hours for devotees to have darshan of the presiding deities.
On the fourth day of Ugadi Mahotsavam, special pujas were performed to Chandeeswara Swamy at Yagashala. Kumkumarchana, Chandi Homam and other rituals were held as part of the five-day fete.
Sri Chenna Siddharama Panditaradhya Shivacharya Mahaswamy, head of Srisaila Mutt, worshipped the presiding deities on the occasion of Telugu New Year. He was accorded a traditional welcome at the temple Rajagopuram on his arrival. Srisaila Devasthanam Asthana Siddhanti Sri Butte Veerabhadra Daivagna rendered Panchanga Sravanam at Akkamahadevi Alankara Mandapam.
Special pujas were performed at the temple for universal peace and prosperity. Rathotsavam was held in the evening. The five-day Ugadi Mahotsavam concludes on Saturday.