Thousands of devotees gathered across the Shiva temples of the Kurnool district on Monday to mark Karthika Masam and the auspicious first Karthika Somavaram. Major Saivite temples, including Srisailam, Omkaram, Mahanandi, Yaganti, Kalvabugga, and Jagannathagattu, witnessed an overwhelming influx of devotees offering prayers and lighting the revered Karthika Deepam.
At Srisailam, known as Dakshina Kasi, nearly 1.5 lakh devotees assembled, taking holy dips in Pathala Ganga and floating Karthika Deepam on the sacred Krishna River. As dusk approached, chants of “Om Namah Sivaya” filled the air, creating a mesmerizing atmosphere. The temple organized a special Maha Mangala Harathi to honor River Krishnaveni, drawing deep reverence from all attendees. Devotees waited for around 6-7 hours for general darshan, while special darshan was completed in approximately 4-5 hours. Temple Executive Officer Chandrasekhar Reddy ensured seamless arrangements, while the Nandyal police provided security to manage the crowds.
At Mahanandi, the temple premises glowed with hundreds of Karthika Deepams, symbolizing devotion and hope. The Yaganti temple also experienced an influx of worshippers for the traditional Deepotsavam, a captivating lamp-lighting ritual.
In Kurnool city, prominent temples like Jagannathagattu, the Nagareswara Swamy temple, and the Rambotla temple hosted vibrant Karthika Deepam ceremonies, while devotees also immersed their Karthika Deepams in the KC Canal at Vinayaka Ghat and the Tungabhadra River near Durga Ghat. The collective energy and spirituality felt during these Karthika Somavaram celebrations left devotees with a profound sense of peace and blessings.
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