Maha Shivratri: Thousands of devotees visit Lord Shiva temples in erstwhile Adilabad

Lakhs of devotees visited major Shiva temples across the erstwhile Adilabad district on Maha Shivratri. Special prayers, holy baths and improved facilities marked the celebrations, with people arriving from Telangana and Maharashtra

Adilabad: Historic temples of Lord Shiva saw an influx of devotees on the occasion of the auspicious Maha Shivratri festival, celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across the erstwhile Adilabad district on Sunday.

In Mancherial district, around 2 lakh devotees from several parts of the district and neighbouring Maharashtra thronged the ancient Sri Gattu Mallikarjuna Swamy temple, located on a hillock at Velala village in Jaipur mandal. They performed special prayers. They took a holy bath in the Godavari river flowing near the village before taking darshan of the deity.
About 1 lakh devotees visited Sri Bugga Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Devasthanam at Kannala village in Bellampalli mandal. The TGRTC operated special buses to Velala and Kannala for the convenience of devotees. Basic amenities such as temporary toilets, drinking water facilities and parking lots were created by the Endowments department for the smooth conduct of the festival.
Similarly, a large number of devotees made a beeline to the ancient Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy temple, located at the centre of an irrigation tank at Sirichelma village in Echoda mandal of Adilabad district, from early morning till midnight. Hordes of devotees belonging to Nirmal district visited the historic Sri Papahareshwara Swamy temple at Kadili in Dilawarpur mandal since early morning.

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Meanwhile, the ancient Sri Sivamallanna Swamy temple at Easgaon in Kaghaznagar mandal, Sri Shivakeshavalayam at Wankhidi mandal centre, Sri Bhadrakali temple in Penchikalpet mandal, and Sri Rangadameshwara Swamy temple at Bejjur mandal headquarters in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district saw a huge influx of devotees from different parts of the region and Maharashtra.
Local voluntary organisations distributed buttermilk and fruits to the devotees at the temples.