“Giri Pradakshina” concludes at Simhachalam
The annual ‘Giri Pradakshina’ of Sri Varahalakshmi Nrusimha Swamy temple of Simhachalam took place on Guru Pournami. Thousands of Devotees have trekked 32-km around the hill as part of the Giri Pradakshina.
The whole reverberated with the chanting of ‘Govinda Govinda’ as the devotees enthusiastically trekked without showing any signs of fatigue. Union Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju flagged off the chariot with replica of the deity at the foothills of Simhachalam Hills in the afternoon.
Devotees started their trek from the first step of stairs (leading to the hill), after praying to the replica of the deity, located at the foothill, and trek along the BRTS Road towards Hanumanthawaka. Many took a dip at Jodugullapalem Beach and continue their trek towards MVP Colony and back via Seethammadhara HB Colony, Alluri Seetharama Raju statue and Madhavadhara, R & B, National Highway, NAD Kotha Road and back to Simhachalam.
Volunteers have worked relentlessly extending their services for the steady stream of devotees, all along the roads serving water sachets, butter milk, tea and ‘prasadam’. This year, many apartment associations came forward to set up kiosks in front of the residential complexes to pep up the spirit of the devotees with water sachets and ‘pulihora’. The GVMC deployed a strong team of sanitary workers who were at work to continually keep the city streets clean. Organisations like Hare Krishna Movement organised ‘Sankirtan’ to mark the event.
The State Transport has run special buses for those who could not trek the 32-km stretch.
