Simhachalam Temple's Annual Chandanotsavam Festival Commences with Grand Preparations
The ancient Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, perched atop Simhachalam hill in Visakhapatnam, is poised to host its annual Chandanotsavam festival starting in the early hours of Monday. This sacred event is anticipated to draw an impressive congregation of approximately two lakh devotees, all eager for the highly sought-after 'nijarupa darshan' of the presiding deity.
Ticket Distribution and Festival Logistics
In meticulous preparation, the temple management has issued a total of 38,000 tickets for the festival. The distribution strategy is modernized, with about 70% of tickets available online and the remaining 30% sold through offline channels. The ticket breakdown includes:
- 20,000 tickets priced at Rs 300
- 16,000 tickets priced at Rs 1,000
- 2,000 tickets priced at Rs 1,500
Each ticket features a QR code to prevent duplication and ensure authenticity. Temple executive officer Jallepalli Venkata Rao has announced that private vehicles will be prohibited from accessing Simhachalam hill starting Sunday, as part of comprehensive traffic management measures.
Prasadam Distribution and VIP Arrangements
The temple is set to distribute a generous 1.4 lakh laddus as free prasadam to devotees, with an additional 1.5 lakh laddus available for purchase. The ceremonial proceedings will be inaugurated by Goa governor and hereditary trustee Pusapati Ashok Gajapati Raju, who will offer silk clothes to the deity in the early morning hours. Following the first darshan by the Vizianagaram royal family, ministers and other VVIPs will be granted access to the temple premises.
Comprehensive Traffic and Parking Management
To facilitate the smooth flow of devotees and maintain order, police have implemented stringent traffic restrictions from 5 pm on Sunday until 5 am on Tuesday. Key measures include:
- Prohibition of heavy vehicles from the Sontyam side towards Adavivaram.
- Diversion of goods vehicles from Hanumanthawaka towards Pendurthi and Gopalapatnam via alternative routes through Anandapuram, NAD, and Maddilapalem.
- Restriction of access from the New Toll Gate to the hilltop exclusively to vehicles with valid passes.
- Designated parking areas for authorized four-wheelers and two-wheelers along the hill road.
For devotees arriving without vehicle passes, parking spaces have been arranged at multiple locations, including Adavivaram Junction, Old Gosala, Simhapuri Colony, Srinivasa Nagar, and New Gosala. Special buses organized by temple authorities will shuttle devotees from these parking sites to the temple. Additionally, APSRTC will operate approximately 400 special buses from the early hours of Monday through Tuesday morning to transport the massive influx of pilgrims efficiently.
