Thousands Participate as Simhachalam Giri Pradakshina Begins
Devotees commenced their Pradakshina from Toli Pavancha, located at the foothills of Simhachalam
Visakhapatnam: Thousands of devotees participated in the 32-kilometre Giri Pradakshina around the Simhachalam Hill in Visakhapatnam on occasion of the Ashadha Pournami, seeking blessings from Lord Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.
Simhachalam Temple has a special connection with number 32. According to Puranas, Lord Narasimha, who emerged from a pillar to protect Bhakta Prahlad manifested in 32 forms while destroying Hiranyakashyap.
To commemorate this, 32 forms of the Lord are portrayed on the pillars of Beda Mandapam at the Simhachalam Temple. The walking route for the Giri Pradakshina is also 32 kilometres long.
The annual spiritual Pradakshina began early on Wednesday, with Simhachalam Temple hereditary trustee P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju flagging off the ceremonial Pushpatheru (flower chariot) carrying a replica of the deity at 2 p.m.
Those who attended the inaugural ceremony included Bheemili MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao, government whip Ganababu, MPs Sribharat and Kalishetti Appala Naidu, Endowments commissioner Ramachandra Mohan, and temple executive officer Trinath Rao.
Devotees commenced their Pradakshina from Toli Pavancha, located at the foothills of Simhachalam. They passed through Old Adivivaram, Arilova, Mudasarlova, Hanumanthawaka, Visalakshi Nagar, Jodugullapalem, Appughar, MVP Colony, Venkojipalem, Isukathota, HB Colony, Seethammadhara, Alluri Sitarama Raju Statue, Balayya Sastri Layout, Port Stadium, Kancharapalem, Madhavadhara, Murali Nagar, NAD Junction, Gopalapatnam Bunk, Prahladapuram and Old Goshala Junction, before returning to the Toli Pavancha.
GVMC commissioner Ketan Garg announced utilisation of AI-based facial recognition technology to track the number of devotees accurately. Drones hovered overhead to check stampedes. Authorities put geo-tags on children’s hands to ensure they did not get lost.
Service initiatives added a warm touch to the Pradakshina. A voluntary organisation offered herbal foot massages to devotees along the route using medicinal oils. Several other organisations provided breakfast to devotees, offering pulihora, pongali, idlis, tea, coffee and almond milk.
Authorities organised medical camps at various locations.
Waste disposal remained a concern, as used plates and cups littered the Pradakshina route. While many cited lack of bins, sanitation staff regretted that many devotees did not dispose of their trash at the designated collection points.
The Giri Pradakshina will officially conclude with the Srigandham offering on Thursday. Temple authorities are preparing over 100 kg of sandalwood paste for the ceremony.
