Saiva Kshetras spruced up for Sivaratri

Amaravati: Saiva Kshetras are being decked for Maha Sivaratri to be celebrated on March 7. Trikoteswara Swamy temple in Kotappakonda, Bramaramba Sameta Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Pedakakani and Amareswara Swamy temple in historical Amaravati are decorated for Maha Sivaratri.

The temple authorities white washed the temple premises and decorated the temples with colourful lighting. Huge pandals were set up on the temple premises for the convenience of devotees visiting the temple. Similarly, Siva temple in Satrasala and Tenali and other Siva temples were gearing up for Maha Sivaratri.

Every year, five to six lakh devotees visit the hill shrine Kotappakonda. This year, Maha Sivarastri falls on Monday. Sunday being holiday, more devotees are expected to visit Kotappakonda. The officials are expecting at least 6.5 lakh devotees.

The Guntur district administration has made all the arrangements on the temple premises and in Narasaraopet for the convenience of the devotees. Special queues are set up in the temple complex. The government released water from the Nagarjunasagar dam into Nagarjunasagar Right Canal to fill the drinking water tanks in the Palnadu region. The RWS officials and Trikoteswara Swamy temple authorities have made all the arrangements for the convenience of the devotees.

The temple authorities will perform Ekadasa Rudrabhishekams and Laksha Bilwarachana to the presiding deity Trikoteswara Swamy.

Superintendent of police Narayan Naik reviewed security arrangements in Kotappakonda. Meanwhile, assembly Speaker Dr Kodela Siva Prasada Rao and Collector Kantilal Dande reviewed arrangements for Maha Sivaratri.

The temple authorities issued VVIP passes and VIP passes. The devotees who want to take holy dip in the River Krishna in the district will go historical Amaravati and perform puja to Amareswara Swamy. The temple authorities started Brahmmotsavams to the Lord Shiva from March 4, as a part of Maha Sivaratri annual festivities.

After performing the special pujas, the temple authorities will perform Siva Kalyanam and Radhotsavam in Amaravati. Bhajana Sangas will perform cultural programmes on this occasion. The devastanam authorities are making arrangements to distribute free prasadam to more devotees.

More than one-lakh devotees are expected to visit the temple and perform the pujas. The officials have set up temporary toilets on the bank of River Krishna. Police made elaborate security arrangements for Maha Sivaratri. Amareswara Swamy temple executive officer K Srinivasa Reddy said, “We have made all the arrangements for Maha Sivaratri for the convenience of devotees. We will distribute free ‘laddu’ Prasadam to the devotees.”

Special pujas would be performed to Bramaramba Sametha Mallikarjuna Swamy in Pedakakani. More than one lakh devotees are expected to visit the temple. Temple premises are decked up for Maha Sivaratri. The officials have made necessary arrangements in the temple for the convenience of the devotees.

Siva temple in Satrasala, Tenali and other Siva temples are also gearing up for Maha Sivaratri. The APSRTC Guntur Region has made arrangements to operate 800 buses to all Saiva Kshetras. Depending on necessity, the officials are ready to ply more buses. APSRTC Guntur Regional Manager T Srihari reviewed the arrangements to operate the special buses.