Thousands turn up for event at Simhachalam

In a remarkable display of faith and devotion, thousands of devotees from across the district gathered at Simhachalam on Saturday to celebrate the revered annual ‘Giri Pradakshina’ festival. Despite persistent showers, participants of all ages embarked on the 32-kilometer pilgrimage around the Simhachalam hill range at dawn, equipped with umbrellas and raincoats. The city, having experienced moderate rain over the past two days, demonstrated excellent organization. Authorities established nearly 300 medical camps, numerous drinking water stalls, and mobile toilets along the route, ensuring the comfort and safety of the pilgrims.
By the afternoon, as the rain eased, the area at the foothills of Simhachalam, known as ‘Tholi Pavancha,’ transformed into a vibrant sea of worshippers. Devotees traditionally broke coconuts before starting their trek. To manage the large crowds, authorities set up around 50 queue lines and nearly 100 coconut-breaking grills. The festival saw strong support from volunteers, NGOs, civil society groups, resident welfare associations, and political representatives, who distributed essential supplies such as drinking water, buttermilk, energy drinks, and a variety of foods including upma, vegetable biryani, halwa, and pulihora.
Former Union Minister and hereditary trustee of the temple, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, led special prayers with the ‘Pushparatham,’ a flower-adorned chariot carrying a replica of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. The chariot set off around 4 p.m., with hundreds of devotees joining the ‘pradakshina,’ chanting ‘Govinda Govinda’ and ‘Jai Sri Ram.’ Saraswati, a housewife from Akkayyapalem, shared, “This is my 10th year of ‘Giri Pradakshina,’ excluding the COVID-19 pandemic years, and the third year for my wife. I believe in this pradakshina, as my wishes have come true earlier with the deity’s blessings.”
Many devotees attributed their participation to the favorable weekend and weather conditions. Women, many with children in tow, eagerly joined the trek. Rajeswar Rao, a senior manager at State Bank of India from MVP Colony, commended the arrangements: “For the past few years, I missed ‘Giri Pradakshina’ due to a tight schedule. Tomorrow being Sunday, I can rest after completing the trek,” he noted, appreciating the event’s timing.
Some devotees opted to circumambulate around the main temple atop the hill 32 times, equating it to the 32-kilometer trek, adding to the festival’s spiritual significance. The ‘Giri Pradakshina’ festival continues to stand as a testament to the unwavering faith and community spirit of the devotees, upholding a cherished tradition year after year, regardless of weather or personal challenges.