more-in On this day, Maha Sivaratri, the devotees can participate in abhishekam rituals atop the Indrakeeladri. Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam has made arrangements to provide mrittika sivalingams (siva lingam made of clay) to the devotees participating in the abhishekam. This is the first time that the temple authorities are providing the mrittika lingam to the devotees. More so, the abhishekam will be conducted in batches near Malleswara alayam. The temple authorities have decided to collect Rs. 516 from the devotees participating in the abhishekam. Earlier, it was performed only to the presiding deity. The devotees can take the mrittika lingam to their house after the pooja, said Temple Executive Officer A. Surya Kumari. The EO said they had made arrangements for perini Siva tandavam and bhajan programmes. The devotees observe jaagaram (wakefulness) as part of the Sivaratri celebrations. Recognising that there were no avenues in the city for the devotees to keep wakefulness on an auspicious day, the temple has lined up cultural programmes from Friday night to early morning of Saturday. A troupe from Khammam will perform perini Siva Tandavam, a dance of Warriors, at around 9 pm. Rathotsavam The other Siva temples in the city have also geared up for the festivities. The kalyanam of Bhramaramba and Malleswara Swamy will be performed at all the temples. Patha Sivalayam in One Town has chalked out plans to conduct rudrabhishekam with 1,000 litres of sugarcane juice. The rudram and namakam, hyms dedicated to Lord Siva, will be chanted 121 times while performing the abhishekam. Patha Sivalayam EO K.N.V.D.V. Prasad said the kalayanam of Sri Ganga Bhramaramba sameta Malleswara Swamy and Bhadrakali and Veerabhadra Swamy would be conducted. Rathotsavam would be organised on February 26 and poornahuti on February 27. Special kumkum archana, pushpotsavam and pavalimpu seva would be conducted from February 28 to March 2. Yanamalakuduru Sivalayam and Sri Vasanta Mallikharjuna Swamyvarla Devasthanam are some of the Siva temples spruced up for the festivities

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