VISAKHAPATNAM: “All necessary arrangements should be made at the Simhachalam hill shrine in connection with the auspicious annual Giri Pradakshina, which is on July 26. As we are expecting huge turnout of pilgrims this year, the Devasthanam, along with Police, Revenue, Medical and Health department officials should make arrangements and sufficient staff should be deployed to offer services round-the-clock to the devotees, who come for the darshan of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, after completion of the Pradakshina,” said HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
The minister visited the hill shrine on Monday and conducted a review meeting with officials on the arrangements made till date. While reviewing, the minister said, “As the lunar eclipse falls on the following day of the Giri Pradakshina, the Devasthanam authorities should make all arrangements according to Aagama Sastra norms.
Dry palm-leaf roofs along the queue lines, water/buttermilk facility, first aid, lights all through the approach road and trekking path should be provided. Mobile toilets, litter bins as well as water glasses instead of water pouches should be made available at all places, along with the 32-km Giri Pradakshina route”.
Further, Ganta ordered deployment of expert swimmers at the beach near Appu Ghar area and other beaches on the Pradakshina route, as most of the pilgrims will take a holy dip in the sea. Ambulances - the 108 services, should be made ready to tackle any emergency situation, he said. For free transportation to and from the foothills to the hilltop, RTC and transport department should ply enough number of buses on the two days. Fire safety and disaster management staff should be deployed both at the temple site and Simhachalam village.
As there will be darshan till 1 pm on Friday, temple staff must see that no devotee is inconvenienced. All devotees should return home with full satisfaction after the darshan of the Lord, said the minister. K Ramachandra Mohan, the temple EO, P Basanth Kumar, VUDA VC & in-charge GVMC chief along with RTC, Electricity, Medical & Health department officials attended the meeting.