Maha Shivaratri Jatara begins on grand note at Vemulawada

 WARANGAL: The three-day annual Maha Shivarathri Jatara from Friday to Sunday has begun on a grand note at the famous Sri Raja Rajeswara Swamy temple in Vemulawada of the Rajanna Sircilla district.

The district administration made elaborate arrangements for the devotees. With an investment of Rs 3.7 crore, officials arranged various facilities for the lakhs of devotees arriving for prayers during the festival days at Vemulawada.

The temple was tastefully painted and decorated with flowers and colourful illuminations. The entire temple town is decorated with welcome arches and lights. The adjoining temples of Sri Bheemeshwara Swamy, Baddi Pochamma, Nagareshwara Alayam, Kedareshwara Alayam, Venu Gopala Swamy and Sri Laksminarasimha Swamy on the Nampally hillocks were also decked up well.

Temporary shelters were set up in and around 3,000 square feet of the temple premises. For parking of vehicles, the area near the temple were readied along with installation of CCTV cameras at various locations. Mike sets were also set up along with help-desks for assistance to devotees participating in the Jatara.

Officials arranged temporary generators and transformers at a cost of Rs 24 lakh. As many as 14 special mini-buses were provided free for shuttle service from Thippapur bus stand to the temple for the devotees arriving from distant places.

The municipal department deployed additional sanitation staff for sanitation works at the temple premises and in the entire town while drinking water facilities have also been arranged. The temple has prepared a record number of laddus this time, around 5.5 lakhs, and 25 quintals of pulihora packets for the devotees during the three-day festivities.

Police are ensuring tight security to prevent any incident in and around the temple premises and in the town.