Ramalingeshwara Swamy temple gears up for annual jathara

Hyderabad Feb 02 : Sri Jadala Ramalingeshwara Swamy temple at Cheruvugattu, popularly known as the second Srisailam, has geared up for the annual Brahmotsavam, which would be conducted from February 3 to 8.

Required arrangements like changing rooms at koneru, toilets, drinking water, queue lines, barricades at kalyana mandapam are completed by the temple authorities at the hill shrine. The temple and arches at Cheruvugattu are painted fresh and decked up with the colourful lights. The temple authorities are expecting around eight lakh people to participate in the Brahmotsavam at the temple.

The significance of the pilgrimage is the shivalingam at the temple that, as per mythology, is believed to have been installed by Parasurama. Devotees of Lord Shiva arrive from Mahabubnagar district to participate in the jathara by foot every year. Shiva stutulu would be the main attraction at the five-day annual fete.

Celestial wedding of Sri Ramalingeshwara Swamy is performed in the wee hours of February 4. Addigundalu, a ritual wherein devotees walk on burning coal on February 6, is also a special attraction of the jathara.Sri Jadala Ramalingeshwara Swamy at Cheruvugattu is located at a distance of 90 kilometres from Hyderabad and 16 kilometres from Nalgonda town. Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) will also be arranging special buses to Cheruvugattu from Nalgonda and Narketpally for the convenience of the devotees.