Hyderabad: Devotees thronged Shiva temples during Maha Shivaratri celebrations across Telangana on Sunday, leading to heavy rush and long waiting hours at several prominent shrines.
Since early morning, worshippers gathered in large numbers at temples across the state. The chants of “Om Namah Shivaya” echoed through temple premises. Many devotees performed special pujas and abhishekams after offering prayers to Lord Shiva.
Authorities arranged queue lines and regulated darshan to manage the crowd. As a result, temple premises remained packed throughout the day. Devotees observed fasts and took part in night-long prayers as part of the festival rituals.
At the Bhimeshwara Temple in Vemulawada in Rajanna Sircilla district, officials estimated a waiting time of nearly two hours for darshan. The temple saw a steady inflow of pilgrims from early morning. Many families travelled from neighbouring districts to participate in the Maha Shivaratri celebrations.
Shiva temples Maha Shivaratri rush peaks at Vemulawada
The Bhimeshwara Temple witnessed one of the highest turnouts in the state. Devotees stood in long serpentine queues for darshan. Temple priests conducted special rituals and abhishekams throughout the day.
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Government Whip Adi Srinivas visited the temple and offered silk garments to the deity on behalf of the state government. Officials said the arrangements ensured smooth movement of devotees despite the surge.
Similar scenes was reported from other Shiva temples across Telangana. The festival was celebrated with grandeur, with continuous prayers, special decorations and ritual ceremonies marking the occasion.