GUNTUR: Police Sevadal volunteers helped devotees reach the hilltop for the Kotappakonda holy shrine. The Guntur police launched a volunteers wing in which students, youngsters and individuals joined in large numbers. The volunteers earlier rendered their services at ATMs regulating queues in th aftermath of demonetisation. Now they have come forward to serve the needy devotees during Kotappakonda Tirunallu. AP Legislative Assembly Speaker, K Sivaprasad Rao presented silk clothes to Trikoteswara Swamy on behalf of the AP Government on Friday as part of the Mahashiva ratri celebration.
The people would take Mokkulu (promise) to come to the Kotappakonda temple if their wish is fulfilled. These people arrive in large numbers and rush to Kotappakonda to complete their Mokkulu. They offer various things including clothes and ornaments. Newly wedded couples would definitely visit the temple on the occasion. Old people and young children chanting Harhara Mahadeva Sambho Sankara walk up the hilltop to fulfill their Mokkulu.
The police seva dal volunteers managed to carry many aged persons who could not walk on stretchers. They also helped children and women to reach the temple through ghat road and stairway. Police seva dal volunteers, G Mohan Sai and others said they had registered their names with the police departments a few months back. They have been offering their services to public on various occasions. They say that they get a lot of satisfaction by helping the old persons, children and women. They added that they will continue their voluntary service during their leisure time while they receive education. T plan to stay at Kotappa-konda till the completion of Tirunallu on Saturday.
The electric Prabhalu vehicles with specially decorated arches incorporating Lord Siva’s replicas with bamboo sticks besides new colourful clothes are the main attraction of the Mahashivaratri at Kotappakonda. The locals spent Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh for each electric chariot, locally called Prabhalu. They would bring these chariots to the Kotappakonda in large processions. Mahashiv-ratri is AP State festival at Kotappakonda. Majority of the people from AP, Telangana State, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other areas come to Kotappakonda to see the Prabhalu.
A stage would be arranged on chariot where there will be dance performances presented. As many as 13 Prabhalu, 50 to 70 feet high, arrived at Kotappakonda on Friday for the event. The surrounding villages bring Prabha with their village name carrying photos of political leaders. The Telugu Desam, YSR Congress and Congress would prepare separate Prabahas. Kammavaripalem Prabha, Kavuru Prabha, Purushottamapatnam Prabha and other villages chariots are very famous with electric lights decorations with the help of power generators.
