Bhadrakali appears as Shakambari

Warangal: It was a visual fiesta for the devotees, who turned to Bhardrakali temple here on the penultimate day of the 14-day Shakambari festival on Thursday. The ornamentation of the presiding deity with vegetables and fruits has begun after the priests performed Nityahnikam at 3 am.

The temple authorities had roped in an expert team led by Chavali Hanuman Kumar of Tenali (Guntur). It took almost six hours for the team to decorate the Goddess Bhadrakali as Shakambari Devi. The long list of vegetables and fruits used for the decoration are… tomatoes, carrots, capsicum, brinjal, lady’s finger, bitter gourd, apples, oranges, pomegranate, mangoes etc. Devotees were allowed to offer prayers from 9 am.

During the decoration, nobody was allowed to worship. “The temple was kept open right through allowing all the devotees have a glimpse of the presiding deity who appeared in the form of Shakambari,” Bhadrakali Seshu, chief priest, said. The festivity would end after performing Vyasa puja, Maha Poornahuti, Bali pradanamon and avabrudam on Friday, he said.

The temple will remain closed from 12 noon on July 27 to 5 am on July 28 on account of lunar eclipse, temple executive officer R Sunitha said. The temple authorities ,who made elaborate arrangements, ensured a hassle free darshan for the devotees.