Ugadi Mahotsavams at Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Srisailam will be held from March 16 to 20.
As the five-day festivities attract a large number of devotees, especially from Sholapur and Sangli in Maharashtra and other places in Karnataka, among others, Srisailam Temple Executive Director M. Srinivasa Rao has asked officials of all departments to make arrangements with the safety of devotees as a priority. Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that though the festivities will begin on March 16, devotees will start arriving in the temple town from the first week of March and asked the officials to make arrangements accordingly.
As a large number of people trekked through the Nallamaly forests to reach the sanctuary, the EO wanted the officials to make arrangements, especially provision of drinking water on the forest road. Devotees trek through Venkatapuram, Naguluti, Damerlakunta, Pedda Cheruvu, Matambaavi, Bhimuni Kolanu and Kailasa Dwaram to reach the shrine. Drinking water should also be supplied to Sakshi Ganapathi, Hatakeswaram, Shikareswaram and other places through water tankers, he said.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao wanted officials to extend cooperation to voluntary organizations and philanthropists who distribute food to devotees on the forest path by providing pandals, lighting and drinking water. The EO asked the officials looking after the annaprasadam and the queues to provide drinking water and snacks to the devotees waiting in the queues. Further, German sheds and pandals should be made available to the devotees so that they can take rest in the empty places near Basava Vanam, Bala Ganesh Vanam and other places, he said.
Regarding medical facilities, the EO asked the officials to maintain adequate stock of medicines in the hospital run by the temple as well as ointments for the devotees who trek through the forest path as their feet get badly bruised due to walking barefoot.
The EO also asked the officials to focus on sanitation, lighting and setting up temporary kiosks to provide information to the devotees and to use the services of Kannada-speaking volunteers to guide the devotees.
Published – 19 Feb 2026 17:02 IST