Vaikuntha Ekadasi: Lakhs Throng Temples In AP, TS

On the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadasi on Monday, lakhs of devout Hindus thronged various temples in Telangana from the early hours including the Lord Venkateswara temples in the twin cities at Himayatnagar and Chikkadpally, the Ranganatha Swamy temple at Ziaguda, the Lakshmi-Narasimha Swamy temple at Yadadri (Yadagirigutta), and temples in Warangal, Vemulawada, Dharmapuri, Kaleshwaram, Kondagattu, Bhadrachalam and Medak.

The temples organized special pujas on the occasion.

In Andhra Pradesh, lakhs of people visited temples in Annavaram, Simhachalam, Dwaraka Tirumala, Vizianagaram, Asaravalli, Srikakulam and other places.

More than a lakh people thronged the Tirumala Balaji temple and the normal darshan took over 24 hours. The Suprabhata Seva and Mangala Harati Sevas were cancelled due to heavy rush.

The Atirudra Mahayagam being performed at Draksharamam continued for the second day.

The temple of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy in Yadagirigutta in the Nalgonda district attracted thousands of devotees from various districts. The temple authorities made adequate arrangements for the people to have a darshan of the Lord. The temple officials made special arrangements for the pilgrims keeping in view the expected heavy rush. Six counters were opened at the temple for sale of Swamivari laddu prasadam. The temple authorities stopped the movement of four-wheelers on the ghat road. However, the TSRTC plied special bus services.

In the Khammam district, Vaikuntha Ekadasi celebrations in the Sri Rama temple at Bhadrachalam were held on a grand scale. The holy Bhadradri reverberated with chants of "Jai Sri Ram". The presiding deities were taken on a procession on the occasion.

Thousands of devotees also visited the temple of Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy in Vemulawada in the Karimnagar district. After the Suprabhatam and Pratahkala pujas, the presiding deities were taken on a procession on a palanquin.

In the Warangal district, all the temples were milling with devotees. Devotees performed special pujas in the Thousand Pillar Temple at Hanumakonda.