Lakhs of devotees thronged Shiva temples across the state on Wednesday to mark the Maha Shivaratri festival celebrations.
The devotees made a beeline to temples after taking a holy bath in rivers since early morning, and performed special pujas in the presence of vedic pundits.
Apart from the famous Shiva temples at Srisailam in Kurnool, Srikalahasti in Chittoor, Draksharamam in East Godavari, Sangameshwar in Medak, and the Rajarasewari temple in Vemulawada, the Kanakadurga temple in Vijayawada also witnessed a huge turnout of devotees.
Shivaratri is observed on Magha Shukla Chaturdashi, the 14th day in Magha masam. Among the 12 prominent abodes of Lord Shiva (Dwadasha Jyothirlingas), Srisailam is the most significant Shiva Shakti Kshetram, which is also known as the Astadasha Shakti Peetham.
Shivaratri Puja rituals include 'lingodbhavam' (emergence of Linga), 'pagalankarana' (adorning of head gear) and 'kalyanotsavam' (celestival wedding) of Lord Shiva to the Goddess Parvathi.
The idol of Lord Shiva is also adorned with precious ornaments.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Executive Officer IYR Krishna Rao offered silk clothes to Lord Shiva and Pravathi on behalf of TTD, and performed special pujas to mark the occasion.
Maha Shivaratri also marks the culmination of 41-day Shiva Deeksha as the Srisailam temple resounded with Shivanama smaranam (chanting of Om Namah Shivaya).
Meanwhile, the RTC operated special services to all the temples to mark Maha Shivratri.