Kakinada: Lakhs of devotees arrived for Giri Pradakshina of Lord Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Murthy Temple at Annavaram, exceeding the expectations of officials.
The Giri Pradakshina started from the first way at Annavaram temple and ended at Pampa River after nine kilometres.
Temple sources said more than 1.50 lakh devotees participated in the programme.
Initially, Devasthanam chairman I. Rohit Kumar and temple executive officer K. Ramachandra Mohan gave a start to the God’s chariot by breaking coconuts. The area reverberated with “Satyadeva’’ chants by devotees.
Devotees complained that temple authorities had failed in making proper arrangements like provision of drinking water and milk.
The day being the auspicious second Monday of Karthika Masa, Shiva temples were full of devotees. Devotees started reaching temples from midnight of Sunday itself and thronged the serpentine queue lines.
Temples like Pancharama Kshetras, such as Bhimeswara Swamy Temple at Draksharama, Chalukya Kumara Rama Bhimeswara Swamy Temple at Samalkot, Ksheera Ramalingeswara Temple at Palakollu, Someswara Swamy Temple at Bhimavaram, and Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple at Pithapuram, Shiva temples at Mukteswaram, Kotipalli, Muramalla and in agency areas were filled with devotees.
The atmosphere was filled with chants of Om Namahshivaya and Shmbho Sankhara Hara Hara Mahadeva.
