‘Karthika Pournami’ celebrated with religious fervour

Devotees thronged Lord Shiva temples across Nandyal and Kurnool districts to offer prayers on the occasion of ‘Karthika Pournami’, on Wednesday. The riverbanks wore a festive look as women in large numbers offered ‘Karthika Deepams’ in the water bodies.

The Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Srisailam attracted the most number of devotees among all Lord Shiva temples. The main ritual of the day, ‘Jwala Thoranam’, was witnessed by a sea of devotees.

Considered the most auspicious day of the month, Karthika Pournami was celebrated with devotion and the temple managements made elaborate arrangements for the devotees to offer prayers and release lamps in the water bodies.

In Srisailam, special rituals were held to mark the occasion and the pilgrims took a holy dip in the Patala Ganga and floated Kartika Deepams in the Krishna river. Chants of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ reverberated across the town, which was illuminated for the festivities.

Nandyal Superintendent of Police (SP) Suneel Sheoran personally supervised the security arrangements at the temple town. Police made elaborate arrangements for smooth flow of traffic and also ensured safety of devotees at Patala Ganga. Expert swimmers were deployed at Patala Ganga and the temple management made arrangements for food, drinking water and snacks in the queue lines.

In Kurnool, devotees thronged Jagannathagattu, Sri Nagareswara Swamy temple, and others. Devotees floated Karthika Deepams in the K.C. Canal at Vinayaka Ghat. Apart from Srisailam, other temples like Omkaram, Mahanandi, Yaganti, and Kalvabugga also attracted huge rush of devotees.