KURNOOL: Lord Shiva temples in Kurnool and Nandyal districts were bustling with devotional activity marking the last Monday of Karthika Masam, a day considered highly auspicious.
The month-long festival, which started on November 14, will culminate on Tuesday.
Devotees flocked to temples in Srisailam, Yaganti, Omkaram, Mahanandi, Kalvabugga and Jagannathagattu, all renowned Shaivite shrines, to offer prayers and light ‘Karthika deepam.’
Srisailam temple, known as Dakshina Kasi, attracted a gathering of three lakh devotees, approximately with chants of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ renting the air. Pilgrims had holy dips in Pathala Ganga and set afloat ‘Karthika deepam’ in its sacred waters. The evening saw temple officials organising special programmes, with about one lakh Deepams floating in the Pathala Ganga.
‘Maha Mangala Harathulu’ was offered to River Krishnaveni. The areas around Gangadhara mandapam and North Shivamada street were illuminated with traditional Kartika lamps, adding to the spiritual ambience.
Nandyal SP K. Raghuveer Reddy ordered tight security measures to prevent any untoward incidents.
At the Mahanandi temple, one crore Karthika deepam (Koti Deepam) were lit around the temple premises. Yaganti and other Shaivite temples also experienced a surge of devotees, with Yaganti temple officials performing Deepotsavam.
In Kurnool city, temples like Jagannatha Gattu, Nagareswara Swamy temple, New Ayyappa Swami temple, Surya temple, Saibaba temple and Rambhotla temple were filled with devotees. People dropped Karthika Deepams in KC canal at Vinayaka ghat and Tungabhadra river near Durga ghat.
