Srisailam gears up for Ugadi Mahotsavams from March 16

The temple town of Srisailam, abode of Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy, is buzzing with devotees ahead of the Ugadi Mahotsavams commencing on Monday(March 16). The festival attracts a large number of devotees from Karnataka and Maharashtra who trek through the Nallamala forest to reach Srisailam and offer prayers on the occasion of Ugadi.

On Monday, Goddess Bhramaramba will give darshan to devotees in Mahalakshmi alankaram. This will be followed by Maha Durga, Maha Saraswati, Sri Rama Vani Sevitha Rajarajeswari and Sri Bhramaramba Devi alankarams over the next four days. Brungi Vahana Seva will be performed to Lord Mallikarjuna and Goddess Bhramaramba on the first day, followed by Kailasa Vahana Seva, Nandi Vahana Seva, Radhotsavam and Aswa Vahana Seva on the subsequent days.

On March 18, Prabhotsavam and Agnigunda Pravesam will be held. The festivities will conclude with Purnahuthi. The traditional Panchanga Sravanam will be conducted on Ugadi day March 19.

Superintendent of Police Suneel Sheoran said that 1,800 police personnel have been deployed for bandobust. Special focus will be on management of devotees in queue lines and traffic regulation. He said the police would monitor the situation from the command control room and urged devotees to follow instructions and maintain patience while waiting in the queue lines and compartments.

The temple management, led by Executive Officer M. Srinivasa Rao, has made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth darshan and comfortable stay for devotees in the temple town. Temporary sheds have been arranged at various locations, including Siva Deeksha centres and along the trekking route through the Nallamala forests to provide shelter to devotees. Proper lighting has been provided at these shelters and generators have been installed along the forest route.

The temple authorities are making arrangements to supply 1.35 crore litres of water during the festival through 450 water taps. Temporary water tanks have also been arranged in gardens and open areas across the temple town. Drinking water will be supplied through 34 RO plants while water tankers will cater to pilgrims staying at Sakshi Ganapati temple, Shikareswaram, Kailasa Dwaram and other places.

Annaprasadam will be distributed at the Annapurna Complex near the temple and also at Naguluti, Kailasa Dwaram and other locations along the forest route. The temple hospital and the Primary Health Centre have been equipped with adequate medicines to provide medical care to devotees. Parking has been arranged at various places in the temple town, apart from the central parking area opposite Ganesh Sadan where buses will be parked.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said special focus has been placed on maintaining cleanliness and hygienic conditions during the festival by engaging additional staff. Temporary toilets have also been arranged at several locations.

Notice boards in Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English have been installed to provide information to devotees. Volunteers from Karnataka and Maharashtra have also been engaged to assist devotees, maintain queue lines and distribute snacks and drinking water in queue complexes and other areas.