Religious fervour marks celebrations in Anantapur

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SOUTHERN NEWS - ANDHRA PRADESH

February 20, 2004 newindpress.com

Religious fervour marks celebrations in Anantapur Thursday February 19

2004 14:37 IST ANANTAPUR: All temples in the district were tastefully

decorated with all kinds of flowers and illuminations on the occasion of

Mahashivaratri.

 

Special pujas and cultural programmes were organised in many places. The

famous Shiva temples in Lepakshi and Hemavathi witnessed maximum number of

devotees. District and temple authorities made elaborate arrangements for the

convenience of pilgrims.

 

The festival was celebrated with traditional chanting of hymns and

religious customs at Timmamamanu and Sri Sai Kaleshwar temple in Penukonda.

Devotees started to throng the Buggaramalingaeshwara temple in Tadipatri and

Kashi Vishveshwaralayam in Anantapur town from the wee hours of Wednesday. A

six-feet high Shiva Lingam made of ice was put on display on the occasion at

Vasavi Kalyanamandapam in Kothavuru in the town.

 

At the world famous Lepakshi Sri Durga Papaneshwara Raghunatha Devalayam,

Shivaratri was celebrated with celestial marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvathi

amid chanting of Vedic hymns by the temple priests. Thousands of devotees from

Bangalore, Timmakuru, Madakasira and adjoining regions participated in the day

long rituals.

 

Sai Kaleshwar Swamy of Sri Shirdisai Global Trust while addressing devotees

said Rudrabishekham is performed to Shiva Linga during the day and a night-long

vigil is maintained by chanting Lord Shiva’s name on Mahashivaratri.

Source:

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEA20040219041715&Page=A&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Andhra+Pradesh&Topic=0&