Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam has begun Mahasivaratri celebrations. The Kalyanam rituals began with performing of mangala snanam, holy bath, to Malleswara Swamy and Ammavaru on Tuesday. The vedic scholars and priests would perform rudra homam etc. up to March 1.
Elaborate arrangementsThe Devasthanam made elaborate arrangements for Sivaratri festival to be celebrated on Friday, and also for organising Sivaratri Kalyana mahotsavam. On Maha Sivratri day, the kalyanam of Sri Ganga Parvathi sametha Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla leela kalyanam would be organised from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. The kalyanam would follow the ritual - Lingodbhva kala abhishekam—scheduled to be conducted at 10 p.m. The priests would perform Mahanyasaka poorvaka ekadasa Rudrabhishekams during Lingodbhava kala. A rathotsavam, chariot procession, would be taken out on March 28. The priests would perform poornahuti etc on March 1. The sivaratri festivities conclude with special pavalimpu seva on March 3 and 4, at 7.30 p.m.
The three bathing ghats -- Durga ghat, Bhavani ghat and Punnami ghat—are being spruced to meet the festival rush. Free buses would be plied between Durga ghat and Punnami ghat so that rush at Durga ghat can be distributed to other ghats. The temple has made arrangements for dress changing rooms and shower baths at the ghats. The barbers would be available round-the-clock at the ghats. The devotees can visit the Siva temples such as Old Sivalayam in the temple bus. Elaborate security arrangements were being made for the festival.
