Sea of devotees marks Maha Shivaratri in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Tens of thousands of devotees thronged the banks of the Krishna River from the early hours of Sunday to take a holy dip on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri in Vijayawada, turning the temple city into a sea of humanity.Devotees began arriving well before dawn at key bathing ghats, including I Town, Prakasam Barrage, Sitanagaram, and Yenamalakuduru. The ghats on either side of the Krishna River witnessed a steady stream of pilgrims throughout the day, many of whom performed ritual baths before proceeding to offer prayers at prominent temples in the city.Durga Ghat, the river ghats on the Sitanagaram side, and the riverbank downstream of Prakasam Barrage saw continuous activity as devotees immersed themselves in the sacred waters. Religious chants, temple bells, and devotional songs reverberated across the riverfront, creating a spiritually charged atmosphere.After taking the holy dip, devotees made their way to seek blessings at the Durga Temple atop Indrakeeladri, as well as at the Shivalayams in I Town and Yenamalakuduru.Long queues were seen at the temples, with authorities making elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth darshan and crowd management.Major arterial roads, including Canal Road, Sitamma Vari Padalu Road, VMC Office Road, and the stretch from Kummaripalem Centre towards I Town, were jam-packed as devotees made a beeline to the temples. Traffic movement slowed considerably in and around I Town due to the heavy influx of pilgrims. Police personnel were deployed in large numbers to regulate vehicular movement and prevent congestion.Marking the auspicious festival, several devotees performed Pinda Pradanams under the guidance of priests along Sitamma Vari Padalu Road. Many philanthropic organisations and individuals organised free food distribution (annadanam) along Canal Road and at other key locations, serving meals and refreshments to the visiting devotees.The Yenamalakuduru Shivalayam, in particular, witnessed a heavy rush, with devotees lining up for hours to offer special prayers dedicated to Lord Shiva. Temple authorities extended darshan timings and arranged additional counters to facilitate the smooth flow of devotees.