SRISAILAM

FESTIVALS

Among the festivals celebrated with great eclat and fanfare, Mahasivaratri, Makarasankranti top the list and lure lacs of persons from all over India, particularly from Karnataka where Vira Saivism predominates over others. The special feature observed during then is the Mangalapaga ritual-adorning the Kalasam atop the Sikhara and the images of Nandis installed in the four corners of the main temple, with a cubit wide and 360 cubit long cloth winding round, starting from the Sikhara. This queer ritual is performed in the night during the auspicious Lingodbhava muhurth by one of priests almost naked. On completion of the ritual, the entire cloth is cut into small bits and distributed amongst the devotees witnessing as prasad, to be preserved as an object of reverence. And it is believed that the keeper is cured of all diseases. Well, belief gives relief, and cheers up the doomed. The Kumbotsavam celebrated on Chaitra Buddha Pournami for Mother Bramarambha is equally a grand occasion, and has a great pull like the Mahasivaratri and the like.

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