Kotappakonda decked up for Maha Shivaratri

Guntur: Trikoeswara temple at Kotappakonda and Bhramarambha Mallikarjuna Swamy temple at Srisailam are reverberating with Sivanama Smaranam (chanting of Om Namah Sivaiah) with over six lakh devotees thronging them by Sunday evening to take part in the Maha Shivaratri celebrations.

Both Srisailam and Kotappakonda temples have been decked up for auspicious Maha Sivaratri festival on Monday. At Kotappakonda, a 73- feet Lord Vinayaka idol was installed on the hillocks of the temple. The temple authorities will perform Eka Dasa Rudrabhishekam and Laksha Bilawarchana since 4 am on Monday. Similarly, special pujas will be performed.

Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao will present silk robes to the presiding deity Trikoteswara Swamy and participate in the yagas and special pujas on Monday. APSRTC is operating 1000 special buses to various Shaiva Kshetras for the convenience of the devotees. The police department has already made elaborate security arrangements at the temple premises at Kotappakonda.

Over, 2000 cops have been deputed for security. The department is using drones to oversee traffic problems. Two police control rooms were opened at Kotappakonda to monitor the situation. Guntur rural SP Rajasekhara Babu along with officials went to Kotappakonda to monitor the situation. Similarly, over 50,000 devotees are expected to visit the Amaralingeswara Swamy temple at Amaravati.

The devotees will take holy bath in the Krishna river and perform special pujas to Amaralingeswara Swamy. Since there is no sufficient water in Krishna river, the Irrigation department is drawing water from the river and has set up showers at the ghat for the convenience of the devotees.

The Bramarambha Sametha Mallikarjuna Swamy temple at Pedakakani, Shiva temple at Guttokonda Bilam, Daida at Gurazala and Shiva temples in the district have also been decked up for the festival.