Devotees throng Shiva temples

Kakinada: Devotees thronged Shiva temples across the erstwhile East and West Godavari districts on the second day of the Maha Shivaratri festival on Thursday. Some devotees visited the sea at Kakinada Beach in Kakinada district and Perupalem Beach in West Godavari district to take a holy dip before seeking the deity’s darshan. Many also took a sacred dip in the Godavari River at locations such as Kotipalli, Atreyapuram, Rajamahendravaram, Pattiseema, and Kovvuru.

Today, temple authorities organised the Rathotsavam (chariot procession) at several temples, including those in Samalkot, Pithapuram, Draksharama, Bhimavaram, and Palakollu. Pithapuram Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple executive officer Kata Mohan announced that Theppotsavam (floating festival) would be held on Friday. Temples reverberated with chants of Om Namah Shivaya as purohits performed special abhishekams to the deities.

On Friday, women devotees will offer kumkum poojas to goddesses such as Puruhutika in Pithapuram, Manikyamba in Draksharama, and Bala Tripura Sundari in Samalkot. Police provided security at the temples, while spiritual organisations distributed prasadam and arranged anna prasadam for devotees.