Andhra Pradesh - Others   

Kotipalli spruced up for Sivarathri festival

Correspondent

Arrangements reviewed at high-level meeting

Kakinada: Elaborate arrangements are being made for the pilgrims visiting the holy shrine of Kotipalli to take a holy dip in Godavari river and later, darshan of the Lord Someswara in connection with the Maha Sivarathri celebrations tomorrow. The Sub-Collector of Rajahmundry K. Sasidhar conducted a meeting of officials of various departments at the Someswara temple complex in Kotipalli on Wednesday evening and reviewed the arrangements.

He directed the officials to provide basic amenities at the bathing ghat and at the temple premises especially drinking water, sanitation. He wanted the Medical and Health authorities to open a first-aid centre equipped with adequate medicines and doctors and chlorinate all the tanks and wells in the village and surroundings. He also instructed the officials to keep boats along with expert divers to keep a watch on the pilgrims taking the bath and attend to any emergencies. RTC officials informed that they were operating as many as 25 special buses from Kakinada and other centres to Kotipalli on February 16.

Temples decorated

VIZIANAGARAM: Sri Uma Kotilingeswara Swamy temple at Punyagiri, Sri Sanyaseswara Swamy temple at Dharmavaram and Sri Seetharama temple at Ramatheerthalu have been spruced up for Mahasivarathri festival on Friday.

Keeping in view the heavy rush to Punyagiri, the administration illuminated the steps leading to the temple atop the hill and provided 10 resting places on the way besides erecting barricades for devotees to take bath at Puttadhara.

RTC will ply 25 special services from the S. Kota depot to the foothill in addition to the regular services from Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam.

It is believed that Dharmaraju, the eldest of the Pandavas, offered prayers to Lord Siva at this temple during their `Agnyatavasam'.

At Ramatheertham, the Vaishnava temple, a huge `jatara' attracts thousands of devotees. Barricades were put up around the Sri Ram temple, which is located on a two-acre area on Swethachal hill.

Temple Executive Officer P.V. Subba Lakshmi said that devotees could have darshan free of cost on this day.

At Dharmavaram, people from surrounding villages congregate at the Sri Sanyaseswara Swamy temple to offer prayers and participate in the jatara. It is believed that childless couple beget children after visiting the temple.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Kotipalli spruced up for Sivarathri festival
Samishti told to be child friendly
Breakthrough in Telugu TV channel newsreader's murder case
Arrangements on for medical college golden jubilee fete
Silk vastrams presented to deities
Relief sought for ryots
Two killed, 30 hurt in accident
Notification for MLC polls issued

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu