Andhra Pradesh govt to make massive arrangements for Mahasivaratri utsavams at Srikalahasti temple

TIRUPATI: State endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy asserted that the Andhra Pradesh govt will make elaborate arrangements for the grand conduct of the 13-day long Mahasivaratri festival, which will get underway at the Srikalahasti temple in Chittoor district from February 24.
Speaking to reporters after conducting a review meeting with the Tirupati district administration, the police and revenue departments, and the Srikalahasteeswara Swamy Devasthanams officials, along with state revenue minister Anagani Satyaprasad and Srikalahasti legislator Bojjala Sudheer Reddy, the endowments minister stated that the Mahasivaratri festival to be celebrated at the Srikalahasti temple this year is likely to attract a turnout of more than 10 lakh devotees from across the country.
“The best of arrangements in terms of setting up additional queue lines and toilets, free transportation, etc., will be in place. Srikalahasti Devasthanams will provide bottled mineral water, milk, and biscuits to the devotees while they are in the queue lines. And for the first time, arrangements will also be made to provide free Darshan to the locals of Srikalahasti following a request from the local legislator Bojjala Sudheer Reddy,” Ramanarayana Reddy asserted.
In a goodwill gesture, the Srikalahasti Devasthanams will also distribute one free laddu to every devotee, and all women devotees will be provided with a blouse piece, bangles set, along with turmeric and saffron during the 13-day festival.
Meanwhile, to eliminate traffic bottlenecks by establishing a link road connecting to the Srikalahasti bypass road and to acquire private properties lying adjacent to the temple complex to decongest the temple premises, the endowments department has agreed to sanction funds to the tune of Rs 7 crore approximately, and these works will be completed before the Srikalahasti festival begins.
State minister Anagani Satyaprasad said elaborate security arrangements were also being made to prevent any untoward incidents during the Mahasivaratri festival. The Tirupati district police wing will deploy 1250 police personnel for the 13-day festival.