Crowds Throng Shiva Temples On Shivarathri

Maha Shivaratri was celebrated with fervour and devotion in AP, with devotees thronging temples of Lord Shiva.

Srisailam, Keesara, Draksharamam and other Shaivaite shrines have been celebrating Bramotsavams, with devotees fasting and participating in Abhisekhams at various places.

The main Maha Shivaratri event is being held at Srisailam, where devotees queued up since early morning. For many, it took nearly nine hours for a darshan. After the presiding deities, Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramarambika, are taken around the town in a procession, priests perform their "wedding" at 12:30.

At Vemulavada in Karimnagar district, nearly two lakh devotees thronged the Rajarajeshwara Swamy temple. In Vijayawada as well, people showed up at the Indrakeeladri shine in large numbers.

In Godavari districts, believers took a bath in the river in large numbers, at Pushkar, Kotilingala, Gauthami and Markandeya.

In Warangal district, devotees came in large numbers to worship Lord Shiva at the Thousand Pillar temple.

Srikalahasthi in Chittoor district also witnessed huge crowds during the day.

Meanwhile, security measures were intensified in Hyderabad in wake of the recent bomb blasts.

However, seven persons were drowned, in Godavari and Krishna districts, during holy dips. Five students of Khammam died in Godavari, while a woman and her brother were drowned at Krishna, according to reports. (INN)