Shivaratri Padayatras to Srisailam via Nallamala Forest Begin Today
Forest, temple, medical health and police officials have made extensive arrangements for devotees to visit on foot.
Kurnool: The Nallamala dense forest region, where the Srisailam Temple is located, will echo with chants of "Hara Hara Mahadeva" starting Monday, as devotees will begin a 40-km padayatra to the temple. Many people trek through the forest to express their devotion to Lord Shiva before seeking His darshan.
Forest officials will allow the yatra through the jungle till February 28. AP government has declared a holiday on Wednesday, February 26, for Shivaratri. Both the temple and forest authorities have made special arrangements for the devotees while they trek through the forest.
Devotees on foot are allowed to carry a 2-liter or 5-liter water bottle, preferably made of steel, copper or glass, instead of plastic. Water will be available at three designated spots along the route. To keep the area clean, devotees have been asked not to throw garbage or plastic waste haphazardly. There are about 100 garbage cans placed along the route.
Temporary shelters have been arranged at Palle Katta, Pathapenta, Nagalooty, Pangidi, Damerlakunta, Pecchervu, Veerabhadrauni Tavalu, Mathambavi, Bheemuni Kolanu, Kailasa Dwaram, and Atakeshwaram. Forest department has deployed 25 staff, 10 protection watchers and 700 volunteers. 10 persons have been to each of these camps.
The department has given permission to open food distribution centres at Nagalooty, Damarlakunta, Pecchervu, and Bheemuni Kolanu.
Medical camps will be available at 10 locations en route, including Venkatapuram, Krishnapuram, Atmakur and SRBC Colony. People above 70 years and those with serious heart conditions or asthma are advised not to join the padayatra, since emergency services are limited.
Lakhs of devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra travel to Srisailam to have the darshan of Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Bhramaramba Devi. To manage the huge number of passengers, officials have arranged special buses from February 19 to February 28 from various locations, including Kurnool, Anantapur, Sri Sathya Sai, YSR, Nellore, Chittoor, Tirupati and Annamayya districts.
Special bus services are also available to Shaivite shrines like Mahanandi, Yaganti, Omkaram, Gundala Brahmeswaram, Sangameshwaram in Nandyal, and Jagannath Gattu in Kurnool city.
Srisailam One-Town Circle inspector G. Prasada Rao said gambling, alcohol and meat are banned. Room charges must be displayed on notice boards of hotels. Their owners will be held responsible for any conflicts.
