Nallamala forest abuzz with Shiva deeksha devotees

Anantapur: Nallamala forest and connecting routes towa-rds Srisailam are being seen with Shiva Deeks-ha devotees from various parts of AP, Telang-ana, Karnataka and also other parts. Large numbers of devotees are on padayatra to have the darshan of Lord Mallik-arjuna Swamy and Go-ddess Bhramarambika temples at Srisailam on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri fete.

In addition to Ugadi festival, number of padayatra devotees who were on Shiva Deeksha was on rise for the past few years. Srisailam te-mple authorities expect at least 40,000 devotees would arrive on padayatra from various states on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.

Normally, Shiva devotees from Maharashtra and northern parts of Karnataka arrive on pa-dayatra during every Ugadi as centuries old tradition. They treat Go-ddess Bhramarambika as 'their family member' and offer sari and other traditional offerings to the goddess and also Lord Mallikarjuna.

However, Shiva deeksha had significance with Maha Shivaratri and devotees from AP, Telangana and Karnataka have been arriving in large scale.

Voluntary organisations are providing necessary facilities for the devotees on way to Srisailam in Nallamala forest and other parts. Kurnool collector Ch. Vijayamohan has also initiated facilities for padayatra devotees.

Medical camps, water supply centres and also free meals distribution centres were being maintained in deep forest area of Nallamala and connecting roads for padayatra devotees.