On the occasion of the holy Karthika Pournami day on Wednesday, thousands of devotees in the two Telugu States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh thronged the temples of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
The devotees bathed in the holy rivers Krishna, Godavari, Nagavali, Vamsadhara and others in the early hours and visited the temples. They then lighted the traditional "Karthika deepams" and performed special pujas chanting "Om Namah Shivaaya" and "Om Namo Narayanaya".
Devotees formed serpentine queues at the river Krishna's ghat as well as at the Durga temple in Vijayawada from the early hours. They took dips in the Pathala Ganga and worshipped Sri Bhramarambha Mallikharjuna Swamy.
Devotees in large numbers also visited prominent other temples like those of Srisailam Mallanna, Sri Kalahastiswara Swamy, Sri Vayulingeswara Swamy in Srikalahasti, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Dharmapuri and Sri Kaleshwara Muktheswara Swamy at Kaleshwaram, and as also other Pancharama kshetrams.
The devotees were seen waiting in queues patiently for hours. The APSRTC also pressed in special services for the convenience of the people.