All the major routes leading to Beach Road in Kakinada were blocked as lakhs of Shiva and Vishnu devotees converged there to take a holy dip in the Bay of Bengal to mark the last Sunday of Karthika month.
According to sources, about 2.5 lakh devotees took the holy dip in the sea, and performed special pujas with fast and rituals at adjoining Kotilingeswara Swamy temple.
Police and district officials had a tough time maintaining traffic on the Vakalapudi and Suryapet roads, as lakhs of devotees made a beeline to the sea since early hours on Sunday.
Though additional police forces were deployed and barricades erected, the queues continued for 4 kilometers hampering traffic movement on the roads.
With the Karthika month due to end on December 4th, the devotees are observing the event with devotion. All Shiva temples in the district are thronged by pilgrims.
People of all ages are taking part in Kartika Masa Samuhika Vana Bhojana Mahotsavam under mango trees to mark the Sunday.
Cultural and religious programs like discourses on Shiva, Vishnu, Harikatha and Burrakatha were organized in the temples on the occasion.