Said to be the only shrine for Lord Yama (God of Death) in Telangana at Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam at Dharmapuri in Jagtial district, the temple is being decked up for the annual Yama Dwitiya , a festival that would be held on Saturday. Every year, the festival falls on the second day after Diwali. On this day, pilgrims from far-flung places visit the shrine and offer prayers to Lord Yama. The belief is that those who offer prayers on this day would not go to ‘hell’ after death.
The pilgrims who visit the ancient temple shrine at Dharmapuri take a holy dip in river Godavari and pour oil in Yamaganda Deepam before offering prayers to other presiding deities of the shrine to get rid of sorrows and sufferings. As part of Yama Dwitiya , the temple authorities have spruced up the shrine and made elaborate arrangements for the festival. Offering prayers during the annual Yama Dwitiya holds significance for the people in the region, said Dharmapuri temple chairman L. Srikanth. The devotees perform special pujas such as Ayoosha Sooktham Homam , archanas , abhishekams for their good health and protection from evils, he said. He also said people of Dharmapuri region visit their sisters’ house for lunch on Yama Dwitiya as it is believed that Bhagini Hastha (food served by sisters) on this day would help in getting rid of all their sins.
