Srisailam witnesses heavy rush of devotees

Sri Bhramarambha Mallikarjuna Swamy temple at Srisailam illuminated with lights for the Mahashivratri celebrations.
| Photo Credit: U SUBRAMANYAM

Srisailam temple town and the Nallamala forests are reverberating with chants of Om Namah Sivaya with thousands of devotees visiting the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple at Srisailam on the occasion of Mahasivaratri Brahmotsavams. Thousands of devotees from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are trekking through the dense Nallamala forests to reach Srisailam and the forest and temple authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the devotees.

Elderly people, children and women trek the dense forests for nearly 40 kilometre to reach the Shaivaite temple. The pilgrims enter the forests at Venkatapuram of Atmakur mandal and reach Srisailam passing through Gosaikatta, Nagaluti, Damerlakunta, Peddacheruvu, Matam Bavi, Bheemuni Kolanu and Kailasa Dwaram.

Medical camps have been set up in the forest route in coordination with the Forest department. Advanced Life Support ambulances have been kept ready at vantage points to shift pilgrims, in case of any emergency. Siva Sevaks and Forest department personnel have been deployed at deep forest area to shift any pilgrim who could not walk after reaching a certain distance in the forest area.

According to Srisailam temple Executive Officer M Srinivasa Rao, information boards have been set up throughout the forest area for the pilgrims to reach the destination safely and not to get lost in the forest. The sign boards also provide information about the facilities available in the forest area for the pilgrims.

Tents and temporary toilets have been arranged for the pilgrims to take shelter at Venkatapuram. For the pilgrims to rest, arrangements have been made at Nagaluti where the water ponds have been cleaned and temporary power supply is also provided with the help of generators.

Temporary sheds and toilets have also been arranged at Damerakunta and Pedda Cheruvu in the forest area. The temple management is supplying water at these two places with the help of tankers. Similarly, eight portable tanks with a capacity of 5,000 litres each have been arranged at Kailasa Dwaram.

Srisailam temple authorities said the pilgrim flow is much higher than the previous years this time. However, they are providing hassle-free darshan and the authorities are providing snacks, biscuits and water for those waiting for darshan in the queue complexes.