Hyderabad witnessed a large gathering of devotees at its major temples on Sunday, celebrating Toli Ekadashi. Many came to seek blessings on this special day.
The historic Sri Jungle Vithoba Temple, nearly 150 years old, was bustling from early morning. Long lines of people waited for their turn to see the deity. The surrounding roads experienced heavy traffic, making it difficult for the temple staff to manage. This temple, once surrounded by dense forest along the Musi River in Gowliguda, is now part of a busy area. Its name, “Jungle Vithoba,” reflects its forested past. The temple’s architecture is notable, with a spire resembling that of the famous Vithoba Temple in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. To accommodate more visitors, the temple has been renovated, keeping the original sanctum intact. This celebration represents faith and cultural unity, attracting people from various backgrounds.
At the Sri Shyam Baba Temple in Veerannagutta near Kachiguda, decorations marked the First Ekadashi. Devotees waited over two hours to see Sri Shyam Baba during Dev Shaini Ekadashi. Many worship Lord Vishnu on this day, believing that fasting and prayer fulfill wishes. Devotional singing, or Kirtans, filled the temple.
Other popular Vaishnavite temples in the state also drew crowds, including the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Yadagirigutta. Being a Sunday, many visited, with regular devotees waiting over two hours and special ticket holders about an hour for darshan. Large turnouts were also seen at the Sri Vithaleshwara Swamy Temple in Nizamabad, TTD Venkateshwara Swamy Temple in Himayatnagar, Kothaguda Sri Venkatagiri Swamy Temple, Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy Devasthanams in Khammam, and Ainavolu Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Warangal.
