Srisailam wears festive look on first Monday of ’Karthika Masam’

Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Srisailam and its precincts wore a festive look on the first auspicious Monday of ’Karthika Masam’. The temple pond, Pushkarini, was lit up with 1 lakh lamps as part of ’Laksha Deepotsavam’ and ‘Pushkarini Harathi’ was performed on the occasion.

Thousands of devotees thronged the temple and the temple management made elaborate arrangements to meet the rush of devotees. As part of Pushkarini Harathi, the processional deities of Lord Mallikarjuna and Goddess Bhramaramba and the Pushkarini were offered ’Dasavida Harathi’, which includes Omkara Harathi, Naga Harathi, Trishula Harathi, Nandi Harathi, Simha Harathi, Surya Harathi, Chandra Harathi, Kumbha Harathi, Nakshatra Harathi and Karpura Harathi.

Srisailam Temple executive officer M. Srinivasa Rao said that the temple opened at 3 a.m. and after the early morning rituals, darshan was allowed from 4.30 a.m.. He said that ’Sparsha Darshan’ of Lord Mallikarjuna would not be provided on all the rush days, including Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, and also on ’Karthika Pournami’ and other auspicious days. On these days, mass ’Arjitha Abhishekams’ will not be performed, he added.

The temple management provided snacks and water at all times at the queue lines for the convenience of the devotees, while special arrangements were made for the devotees to light ’Karthika Deepams’ at Gangadhara Mandapam and North Mada street. ’Annaprasadam’ was served from 10.30 a.m., while snacks were offered from 6.30 p.m.. The temple management has also added 10 more counters to the existing ones to sell laddus and will be preparing more laddus in view of the devotee rush.

Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy and Srisailam MLA Budda Rajasekhara Reddy had darshan at the temple.

Meanwhile, C.H. Bharadwara Sarma and G. Gangamma took oath as the members of the Srisailam temple trust board in the presence of EO Srinivasa Rao.