Elaborate arrangements in place for Maha Shivaratri jatara in Mancherial
Mancherial: Elaborate arrangements are in place for smooth conduct of the two-day long annual Maha Shivaratri jatara at the ancient Sri Gattu Mallanna Swamy temple on a hillock and Sri Mallikharjuna Swamy at the foothills near Velala village in Jaipur mandal on March 1.
Executive Officer of the temple B Ramesh told ‘Telangana Today’ that basic amenities such as drinking water, electricity, temporary toilets, sheds, etc., were created for the convenience of devotees at an estimated cost of Rs 15 lakh at the temple located on the hillock and another shrine situated at the foothills. Water sachets would be distributed to the devotees in view of prevailing heat wave conditions.
The executive officer stated that a fire tender, staffers of the medical and health department would render duties at the temple for handling medical emergencies. About 300 policemen would be security arrangements were being made for preventing untoward incidents. Services of volunteers of NSS and NCC would also be used for managing crowds. Expert divers were going to be pressed at the spot of Godavari where devotees take holy dip, he narrated.
In the meantime, Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC)-Mancherial division will ply around 15 buses to Velala from Mancherial town for three days by charging special fares of Rs 70 per adult passenger and Rs 35 for children. The buses would shuttle between Mancherial and Velala from Monday to Wednesday, divisional manager M Malleshaiah said.
Around one lakh devotees belonging to several parts of not only Mancherial district, but also neighboring Peddapalli and Maharashtra make a beeline to the two temples near the village. They take holy dip in Godavari river before taking darshan of presiding deities of the shrines by forming serpentine queue lines. They perform special prayers. They camp under make-shift tents and organize community lunches.
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