Arasavalli temple sees huge rush of devoteesThousands gather to offer prayers on Surya Jayanti

The Arasavalli Sri Suryanarayana Swamy temple saw an extraordinary crowd of devotees on Ratha Saptami, the biggest festival in Srikakulam. Thousands gathered to pray to the Sun God on Surya Jayanthi, marking the Sun’s celestial shift.
Devotees stood in long queues, waiting patiently for their turn to receive blessings. Principal Secretary of the Endowments Department, Vinay Chand, presented pattuvastrams on behalf of the State Government, which has declared Ratha Saptami a three-day state festival. Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, and other dignitaries participated in the Ksheerabhisekham ritual, led by Chief Priest Ippili Shankar Sarma.
The celebrations began at midnight on Monday, with thousands praying and making offerings at Indra Pushkarani. People from across Uttarandhra and Odisha took part in the festival. District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar supervised arrangements and interacted with devotees to ensure smooth movement inside the temple. The Endowments Department, police, revenue, and fire personnel worked together to manage the event smoothly.
By Tuesday evening, queues stretched nearly two kilometers. The temple was beautifully decorated with flowers, creating a divine atmosphere. Special prayers started at midnight, attended by central and state ministers, legislators, and senior officials. Authorities estimated that lakhs of devotees visited the temple. Thousands of police personnel were deployed for security, ensuring a peaceful event. For the first time, District SP KV Maheshwar Reddy monitored security from the control room to provide an uninterrupted darshan experience.
The State Government extended the festival to three days, including Surya Namaskar on Sunday, February 2nd, which saw thousands participating in religious activities. The festival also included heli tourism, rural sports, cultural programs, a laser show, fireworks, and a grand Shobha Yatra.
Ahead of the event, the city saw major improvements such as new lighting, dividers, tree plantations, colorful paintings, and road repairs. Local residents appreciated the efforts of officials and public representatives in making the celebrations successful.
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