Maha Shivaratri Celebrated with Devotion in Hanamkonda
On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, temples in Orugallu were filled with the chanting of Lord Shiva’s name. From early Wednesday morning, devotees, public representatives, opposition leaders, officials, and other well-known figures arrived in large numbers. The temples were bustling with activity as people gathered to offer prayers.
In preparation for the festival, temple committees and priests decorated the shrines beautifully. The temples were illuminated with bright lights, creating a divine atmosphere. Devotees, after taking ritual baths and wearing new clothes, started arriving at the temples from 5 AM. They prayed with devotion, observed fasting, meditated, and kept a night-long vigil. Many also performed abhishekam, pouring milk, honey, and water over the Shiva Lingas. The chant of “Om Namah Shivaya” and “Hara Hara Mahadeva” echoed throughout the temples.
To enhance the celebrations, temple authorities arranged cultural programmes that attracted many devotees. Special queue lines were set up separately for men and women to ensure smooth darshan. Officials also made arrangements for drinking water, electricity, and sanitation. Local police, in coordination with temple committees, maintained strict security to prevent any disturbances.
At the historic Thousand Pillar Rudreshwara Swamy Temple in Hanamkonda, as well as Padmakshi, Siddheshwara, Jaleshwara, and Bhadrakali temples, notable leaders such as MLA Naini Rajender Reddy and MP Dr. Kadiyam Kavya performed special prayers with their families. MLA KR Nagaraju took part in the Peddapatnam celebrations at Ainavolu Mallikarjuna Swamy temple and later performed rituals at Mettugutta Sri Ramalingeshwara Swamy Temple in Madikonda.
In Lingala Ghanpur, MLA Kadiyam Srihari participated in the Kalyana Mahotsavam of Veerabhadra Swamy alongside Goddess Bhadrakali. At the Palakurthi Swayambhu Sri Someshwara Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, Hanumandla Jhansi Rajender Reddy performed special pujas. She also participated in the Maha Annadanam (community feast) and dined with sanitation workers. Several other leaders, including former Speaker Sirikonda Madhusudhana Chary, former State Planning Board chairman Boyinapalli Vinod Kumar, ex-minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao, and former Chief Whip Dasayam Vinay Bhaskar, performed abhishekam to the Shiva Lingas and offered prayers.
As a mark of respect, priests welcomed government and opposition leaders, officials, and other dignitaries with a traditional Poorna Kumbham ceremony. After the prayers, Theertha Prasadam, sacred clothes, and divine blessings were distributed to all attendees.
