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Hans India
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Sea of devotees have hassle-free ‘Giri Pradakshina'
Visakhapatnam: The grand annual festival of Lord Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha of Simhachalam Devasthanam 'Giri Pradakshina' commenced in Visakhapatnam in the early hours of Wednesday. Devotees arrived at Tholipavancha from 5 am and started their trek by breaking a coconut at the foothill of Simhachalam. According to the muhurtham, the Devasthanam commenced the Giri Pradakshina at 2 pm by pulling the 'pushparatham' of the presiding deity the Tholipavancha. The pushparatham was flagged off by the hereditary trustee of the temple, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju and MLAs Ganta Srinivasa Rao and PGVR Naidu. For the convenience of devotees, vehicles are being restricted from Gopalapatnam petrol bunk junction to Ghosala junction till Thursday evening. The devotees who commenced their trek had to reach the Ghosala. From there, they had to reach the Tholipavancha by trekking. Similarly, heavy vehicles were not allowed in the city limits. Every year, the city witnesses mild showers and the weather used to be pleasant for the trekkers. However, this time, the temperature soared till afternoon on the Giri Pradakshina day. As a result, those who were on a trek without footwear faced inconvenience. As part of the annual festival, queue lines, shamiyanas and tents used to be facilitated near the Tholipavancha so that devotees could commence their trek, breaking a coconut comfortably. However, with the tents getting collapsed while erecting, the temple officials removed them. With this, the devotees experienced inconvenience due to unfavourable weather conditions. Following diversions, a number of junctions, including BRTS road, Vepagunta, Hanumanthawaka, Gopalapatnam, Pendurthi, witnessed heavy traffic congestions. For the first time, the district officials utilised an Artificial Intelligence-based facial recognition technology system to record an accurate number of devotees taking part in the Giri Pradakshina. Special arrangement was made to record the event near Simhachalam and the AI kept recording each second. Serving the devotees in various ways all along the trek, several NGO representatives pitched in setting up stalls and reaching out to the devotees, providing them, medicines, water, refreshments, etc. Volunteers of Sri Sathya SaiSeva organisations, including Simhachalam Samithi, Madhavadh Samithi, did yeoman's service to the devotees circumambulating 32-km-long trek. As part of the service activity, the volunteers offered foot massages to the devotees using herbal oil. Providing relief to the devotees, their service was well appreciated by the pilgrims. In addition to the foot massage, the volunteers served tiffins and refreshments to the devotees at various locations. With complete coordination of endowments, district administration, police, GVMC officials, the festival was organised in a hassle-free manner.
Hans India
09-07-2025
- Hans India
32-Km long 'Giri Pradakshina' commences in Vizag
Visakhapatnam: The grand annual festival of Lord Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha of Simhachalam Devasthanam 'Giri Pradakshina' commenced in Visakhapatnam on early hours of Wednesday. Devotees arrived at Tholipavancha from 5 am and started their trek by breaking a coconut at the foothill of Simhachalam. Lakhs of devotees believe that circumambulating the 32-km-long trek on the occasion of 'Ashada Pournami' help them overcome struggles in life and invoke the blessings of Lord Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha. According to the muhurtham, the Devasthanam is commencing the Giri Pradakshina at 2 pm by pulling the 'pushparatham' of the presiding deity the Tholipavancha. The pushparatham will be flagged off by the hereditary trustee of the temple, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju. As per the Devasthanam estimates, five lakh people are expected to participate in the trek and arrangements are made accordingly.
Hans India
09-07-2025
- Hans India
Lakhs of devotees to take part in ‘Giri Pradakshina' today
Visakhapatnam: Devotees believe that circumambulating 'Simhagiri' on the occasion of 'Ashada Pournami' help them overcome obstacles in life and invoke the blessings of Lord Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. Popularly known as 'Giri Pradakshina', this time, the annual Simhachalam Giri Pradakshina mahotsavam is celebrated on July 9 (Wednesday). Speaking about the festival arrangements, executive officer (EO) of the Devasthanam Vendra Trinadha Rao said that elaborate arrangements have been made in view of the devotees leaving from Simhachalam Tholipavancha on Wednesday for their onward trek. At 2 pm, the Pushparatham with the idol of Lord Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy will commence from Tholipavancha at the Simhachalam downhill. The chariot will be flagged off by the hereditary trustee of the temple, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju. Lakhs of devotees will take part in 'Giri Pradakshina' along with the chariot. The 32-km Giri Pradakshina, which starts from Tholipavancha, passes through Old Adivivaram, Arilova, Mudasarlova, Hanumanthawaka, Visalakshi Nagar, Jodugullapalem, Appughar, MVP colony, Venkojipalem, Isukathota, HB Colony, Seethamadhara, Alluri statue, Balayya Sastri Layout, Port Stadium, Kancharapalem, Madhavadhara, Murali Nagar, NAD Junction, Gopalapatnam bunk, Prahladapuram, Old Goshala junction and returns to Tolipavancha. As part of the festival, the last phase of the sandalwood offering will be held on July 10. About 125-kg of 'Srigandham' was prepared by mixing assorted spices to offer to the presiding deity of Simhachalam. An opportunity will be provided for devotees, who cannot take up the 32-km Giri Pradakshina, to circumambulate the temple. As part of it, devotees will be allowed to circumambulate at the temple from 3 am in the morning. According to chief priest G Srinivasacharyulu, circumambulating the temple 108 times gives equal result to trekking 32-km-long route. For the convenience of the devotees, ramps are being set up at the North gopuram and South gopuram. The EO informed that free transport facilities have been provided to the devotees who complete the temple pradakshina on July 10 to help them travel from uphill to downhill. Special measures are taken for sanitation maintenance along the 'metla margam' and at various places on the uphill. The EO said that chairs and carpets will be facilitated for the devotees to take rest in between at special stalls in 29 places all along the Giri Pradakshina route. Meanwhile, GVMC commissioner Ketan Garg informed that helpline and toll-free numbers have been set up by the corporation for the convenience of devotees participating in the Giri Pradakshina. The Commissioner stated that during the Giri Pradakshina of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Simhachalam, lakhs of devotees undertake the 32-km-long trek. For their convenience, GVMC has arranged a helpline number 0891-2507225 and a toll-free number 1800-4250-0009 and festival activities will be monitored from the city operation centre. In addition, GVMC made arrangements, such as drinking water, toilets, lighting, and medical camps along the route. The Commissioner appealed to the devotees to make use of these facilities, and in case of any obstacles in arrangements or emergencies, the devotees are asked to contact the toll-free or helpline numbers for prompt assistance. A number of NGOs teamed up to offer services to the devotees trekking along the 32-km-longstretch.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
From 1959 to 2025: A spiritual milestone that reflects the temple's transformation with modern amenities
After a gap of 16 years pilgrims across the world, especially from Tamil Nadu have gathered at Tiruchendur to witness the sacred spectacle of the consecration ceremony of the Subramanya Swamy temple. As the sun rises over the Bay of Bengal, the air around the ancient coastal shrine will be charged with a spiritual intensity. The temple which recently underwent a massive renovation and development works at a cost of ₹300 crore, is celebrating its consecration ceremony today between 6:15 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. Since India's independence in 1947, the Subramanya Swamy temple in Tiruchendur marked many significant milestones beyond its annual festivals such as the car festivals, 'Vaikasi Visakam, Thai Poosam and Panguni Uthiram,' events. One of the most notable events was the tercentenary celebrations of the temple, which was published in The Hindu on May 10, 1954, commemorating the 300th year of restoration and re-installation of Lord Shanmugar's idol at the temple on May 7, 1954. An article published in The Hindu on July 12, 1959 reported the consecration ceremony held at the temple on July 8, 1959, it reads: 'The Ashtabandhana kumbabishekam of the ancient shrine of Lord Subramanya Swamy at Tiruchendur came off during early hours of this morning amidst the scenes of great enthusiasm evinced by thousands of devotees gathered from all over the state.' At that time, the Devasthanam had sanctioned ₹30,000 for the consecration ceremony expenses. Following the donation of several devotees, the total expense was estimated at ₹55,000 during that year's consecration. The temple witnessed its next consecration on June 24, 1971. 'The elaborate rituals connected with the ceremony began on June 16 and three namboodiri pandits from Trivandrum performed various ceremonies,' as published by The Hindu on June 25, 1971. This was followed by another consecration ceremony at the temple on June 27, 1983, attended by former minister RM. Veerappan, then Minister of Religious Endowments department. Further consecration ceremonies were held in 1995 and 2009. In 2009, the consecration was conducted on July 2, 2009, where lakhs of devotees converged at Tiruchendur to witness the event. K.R. Periya Karuppan, then Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department participated in the event. The current consecration being held today is significant, not just as a spiritual event but also as a symbol of large-scale temple infrastructure development in Tamil Nadu. This marks the first temple in Tamil Nadu to be renovated and upgraded at a cost of ₹300 crore, with ₹100 crore sanctioned by HR&CE Department and ₹200 crore contributed by the HCL. The major developments at the temple include a huge tonsure (head shaving) block, a Q-line complex with a waiting area, new administrative blocks, new accommodation facilities, a UPS and network system, a healthcare centre, etc. Today's consecration not only marks a spiritual milestone, but also reflects the temple's transformation with modern and necessary amenities, without losing its ancient charm and sacred energy.
Hans India
06-07-2025
- Hans India
Ahead of ‘Giri Pradakshina,' some temporary tents fall flat at Simhachalam
Visakhapatnam: Even as arrangements for the annual festival 'Giri Pradakshina' at Simhachalam are going on in full swing, some of the tents facilitated temporarily gave away on Saturday. In order to provide shelter to devotees arriving for the festival, the Devasthanam installed temporary tents with the support of iron poles. However, some of them gave away, resulting in the flattening of a few tents. According to the temple officials, the incident happened while levelling the ground with an excavator. In the process, the vehicle got in contact with some of the poles, collapsing the tents erected with their support. Recently, the Simhachalam Devasthanam engaged a contractor to install the tents for the festival. The exercise has been in progress for the past few days. Lakhs of devotees are expected to take part in 'Giri Pradakshina' covering a 32-km stretch. Traditionally, the trek commences from 'Tholipavancha' downhill where people break coconuts, marking their onward journey. To provide convenience to those arriving at Tholipavancha, the temple authorities erected temporary tents. But, some of them gave away while installing as they came in contact with the excavator that was on the move. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident as people were not present at that point of time. For the past few days, the city has been witnessing rain. Every year, it rains during 'Giri Pradakshina.' However, keeping the tents' collapse in view, the temple officials decided to get rid of all of them and take measures to ensure that the major festival is organised incident-free. This year, Giri Pradakshina is scheduled on July 9. As part of it, lakhs of devotees are expected to circumambulate the hill on 'Aashada pournami.' It may be recalled that a wall collapsed during 'Chandanotsavam', claiming seven lives.
