Dasara festivities at Srisailam to commence from October 11

The Dasara Mahotsavams will be held at Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Srisailam from October 11 to 20.

During the festivities, special ‘archanas’ will be held for Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy and special pujas for Goddess Bhramaramba will be performed daily, along with ‘Rudra Yagam’ and ‘Chandi Yagam’. The processional deity of Goddess Bhramaramba will be adorned in ‘Nava Durga’ (nine avatars) and various ‘Vahana Sevas’ (processions on divine mounts) will be conducted for the Lord and Goddess.

Announcing the special rituals and arrangements made for the festivities, Srisailam temple trust board chairman P. Ramesh Naidu and executive officer M. Srinivasa Rao on Thursday said all steps have been taken to ensure a smooth conduct of the festivities.

“A Sata Chandi Maha Rudra Yagam accompanied by Sahasra Chandi Parayanam will be organised during this year’s Dasara celebrations for the wellbeing of the world,” they said.

The festivities will commence on October 11 at 9 a.m. with ‘Yagashala Pravesham’ at the Goddess’s temple and later at the Lord’s temple. They added that ‘Japas’ (chanting of mantras) and ‘Parayanas’ (scriptural recitations) will be conducted daily during the festival.

Meanwhile, silk garments will be offered to the presiding deities by the State government on October 19, the day of Maharnavami, the chairman and EO said. Events such as ‘Yaga Purnahuti’, ‘Kalashodvasana’, and ‘Avabrutham’ have been scheduled for the morning of October 20 and the festivities will conclude on the same day in the evening with the ‘Teppotsavam’ (float festival).

All ‘Arjita Sevas’ such as ‘Ganapati Homam’, ‘Rudra Homam’, ‘Mrutyu Chandi Homam’, ‘Mrutyunjaya Homam’, ‘Laksha Kumkumarchana’, ‘Navavarana Puja’, ‘Suvarna Pushparchana’, ‘Udayastamana Seva’, ‘Pradoshakala Seva’, and ‘Pratah-kala Sevas’ have been suspended during the festival period.

An LED screen has been set up at the Gangadhara Mandapam for the devotees to view the festival proceedings. Arrangements have also been made to showcase folk art forms during the ‘Gramotsavam’ (procession of deities through the town).