Date:14/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/14/stories/2007081457810600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Time for prayers & celebrations

Staff Reporter

‘Vanabhojanam’ is the special feature of ‘Sravana masam’

Temple marvels: Pilgrims don’t miss the opportunity to take photos at Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy devasthanams at Nampally hillocks near the Sri Rajarajeshwara Swamy devasthanams at Vemulawada temple in Karimnagar.

KARIMNAGAR: Come ‘Sravana masam’ and it is time for people of Karimnagar district to offer prayers at various temples in the district and organise ‘vanabhojanams’ to savour the nature’s beauty. Monday was the first day of the month of ‘Sravana.

During the month, the people visit the temple shrines of Vemulawada, Kondagattu, Dharmapuri and Kaleshwaram and pray to the presiding deities for abundant rainfall to protect their standing crops and also better yield. The people also organise picnics at temple shrines. After hectic farming activity, farmers take a small break to enjoy the nature.

The farmers and others organise ‘vanabhojanams’ at tourists’ spots such as Ramagiri hillocks, Ramuni Gundala, Elgandal fort, Bijigiri Sherief, etc.

At Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy devasthanams in Vemulawada temple town, which is also called Dakshin Kashi, there was heavy rush of pilgrims on Monday.

A majority of devotees visited Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy devasthanams at Nampally hillocks in the vicinity of the temple town and celebrated the ‘vanabhojanams’.

Arrangements

Vemulawada devasthanams chairman Adi Srinivas told The Hindu that they had made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims visiting the temple during this month.

He said that they were expecting heavy rush on Mondays and Fridays. Special queue lines had been made for the pilgrims and measures taken to ensure proper sanitation in the temple town.