Srimukhalingam yet to get funds for Sivaratri fete

Srikakulam: Famous Siva temple and popularly known as Kashi of South India, Srimukhalingam in Jalumuru mandal in Srikakulam district, is yet to get funds from the government for Maha Sivaratri festival. Every year Sivaratri festival is being celebrated here for four days and this year also, the festival will be organised from March 4 to March 7.

On last day of festival, Chakratheertha Snanam will be conducted for the temple shrine in Vamsadhara river. As Srimukhalingam located on the banks of Vamsadhara river, devotees will take holy dip in river before having darshan of the temple shrine.

Bathing Ghats also need to be arranged in the river, barricades and other facilities required here. As it is summer, the water needs to be stored in the river for holy baths of devotees.

For all these facilities about Rs 3 lakh funds required. Police, revenue, roads and buildings, irrigation department officials are required to coordinate mutually. But due to lack of funds concerned departments’ officials are forcibly making arrangements with directions of district higher officials.

“We have to make arrangements for water, lighting within the temple, prasadams for devotees at the cost of temple funds,” said its executive officer VVS Narayana. “We are yet to receive bills regarding last year arrangements and this year also we have spent funds for it,” said roads and buildings DEE B Srinivasa Rao.

Devotees L Sridevi, Ch Vykunta Rao and temple priests T Peddalinganna and others also expressed unhappiness over non-allotment of funds for the festival even to noted Siva temple like Sri Mukhalingam.