1 week ago
Sravana Masam Drives Heavy Pilgrim Rush At Andhra Temples
Sravana Masam is an important month when many Hindu devotees visit temples.
Crowds have grown at temples throughout Andhra Pradesh.
People are especially visiting on Fridays, Saturdays and Tuesdays.
Bus officials are adding special services to help pilgrims travel.
Many visitors are women using the government’s free travel scheme.
Some temples have also arranged special prayers and crowd controls.
More buses may be added in Rayalaseema if the crowds grow.
Flowers and fruits used for worship have become more expensive because demand is high and flower production is lower.
Temples across Andhra Pradesh are seeing unusually large crowds during the auspicious Sravana Masam.
The Urukunda Eeranna Swamy Temple has received 20 special buses, while more services may be added.
Nearly 30,000 devotees visited the Gandi Veeranjaneya Swamy Temple on one recent Saturday.
The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation expects about 250 additional buses across Rayalaseema.
Flower prices have surged, with roses rising from about ₹300 to more than ₹600 per kilogram.
- Who
- Devotees, temple authorities and Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation officials are involved.
- What
- Temples are experiencing a major increase in pilgrim footfall, prompting special rituals, crowd-management measures and additional bus services.
- Where
- Major shrines across Andhra Pradesh, including temples in Kurnool, YSR Kadapa, Visakhapatnam, Eluru and Vijayawada.
- When
- During Sravana Masam, which is expected to continue until mid-September; crowds are especially high on Fridays, Saturdays and Tuesdays.
- Why
- Sravana Masam is considered a holy month, while free bus travel for women has encouraged more pilgrimages.
Key facts
- Special buses at Urukunda
- 20 buses have been deployed for devotees visiting the Urukunda Eeranna Swamy Temple.
- Gandi temple attendance
- Temple authorities estimated that nearly 30,000 devotees visited on the previous Saturday.
- Expected additional buses
- About 250 additional buses may operate across Rayalaseema during the season.
- Expected passenger trips
- The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation expects more than 30 lakh additional passenger trips in Rayalaseema.
- Women devotees
- Officials estimate that nearly 80% of temple visitors during the season are women.
- Rose prices
- Rose prices increased from about ₹300 per kilogram to more than ₹600.
- Travel scheme
- The Stree Shakti programme provides free travel for women on state buses.
Quotes
Shaik Rahamath Baba
Flower trader at the Kurnool Flower Market
“We have deployed 20 special buses exclusively for devotees visiting the Urukunda Eeranna Swamy temple during the Sravana festivities. Additional services would be introduced if the rush increases further.”
deccanchronicle.com
“We expect more than 30 lakh additional passenger trips in Rayalaseema alone during Sravana Masam. The free travel scheme has encouraged women to undertake pilgrimages in large numbers.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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