SRISAILAM: The month-long Karthika Masotsavam began at the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Srisailam on Tuesday. Executive Officer M. Srinivasa Rao and priests offered special prayers and lit the Akasha Deepam on the temple's flagstaff. The festival runs until December 9.
Darshan and seva changes
- No sparsha darshan (touch darshan) on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and festival days; only alankara darshan
- Sparsha darshan in batches from Tuesday to Friday
- ₹5,000 garbhalaya abhishekams and ₹1,500 collective abhishekams suspended because of the rush; arjita homams and Kalyanotsavam continue
- A new ₹216 arjita abhishekam at the Panchamatha temples, bookable on the Manamitra WhatsApp line (9552300009) or www.tms.ap.gov.in
- Temple doors open at 3 AM; darshan from 4:30 AM to 4 PM and again from 5:30 PM
Key dates
Krishnamma Harathi is on November 13, Koti Deepotsavam on November 20 and Jwalathoranam on November 24, Karthika Pournami. Pushkarini Harathi and Lakshadeepotsavam will be held every Monday and on Pournami. The temple expects 40,000 to 50,000 devotees on important days. Nandyal Collector G. Rajakumari said all arrangements for accommodation, drinking water, queues and parking were complete. Trust Board chairman P. Ramesh Naidu said convenient darshan for ordinary devotees was the priority.
