HYDERABAD: Chants of ‘Om Nama Sivaya’ rent the air as devotees flocked to temples on Monday on the occasion of Mahasivaratri. The temples were beautifully decked up with flowers, lights and decoration material on the occasion as pilgrims stood in serpentine queues since early morning to offer prayers to Lord Siva.
The temples at Keesara, Shivam, Secunderabad, Ramanthapur, Kundanbagh, Ameerpet, Punjagutta, Shankar Mutt, Nallakunta, Skandagiri, Padma Rao Nagar, Dilsukhnagar witnessed huge turnout of devotees. Many temple managements organised special ceremonies and conducted special bhajans on the occasion.
Some also invited religious heads to deliver discourses. Sivaratri puja rituals include Lingodbhavam (emergence of Linga), Pagalankarana (adorning of head gear) and Kalyanotsavam (celestival wedding) of Lord Siva to Goddess Parvati.
The APSRTC operated special buses to the Siva temple at Keesaragutta where thousands converged from various parts of the city. Several theatre managements organised late night shows for people observing Jaagaram.