Latest news with #Chandanotsavam
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Simhachalam temple prepares for Giri Pradakshina on July 9
Visakhapatnam: Sri Varaha Lakshmi Nrusimha Swamy temple on Simhachalam hill is preparing for the annual Giri Pradakshina, a 32 km walk surrounding the hill shrine, on July 9. Around three lakh devotees from AP, Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh are expected to participate in the event. The event will start from the foothills and pass through areas like Paat Adavivaram, Mudusarlova, Hanumanthavaka, Jodugullapalem, Appughar, Venkojipalem, HB Colony, Muralinagar, and Madhavadhara before reaching Simhachalam. In the wake of the tragic incident during the Chandanotsavam last month, in which seven devotees were killed when a wall collapsed on the queue line, the temple management is focusing more on devotees' safety and facilities. The temple management discussed various arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual festival for the devotees. Led by temple priests TP Rajagopal and Seetharama Charyulu, a meeting was held on Friday. The executive officer V Trinatha Rao emphasised the need for appropriate arrangements given the expected turnout. The 32-km Simha Giri Pradakshina will take place throughout the city. The EO directed the temple officials to coordinate with GVMC, police, medical departments, donors, and NGOs to provide support. Mobile toilets will be installed with GVMC's assistance for sanitation. Discussions are ongoing with GVMC officials regarding electricity and drinking water facilities.
India.com
17-05-2025
- India.com
Top 7 Must-Visit Places In Visakhapatnam This Summer
Visakhapatnam, popularly called Vizag with love is a cozy coastal city that lies on the eastern seaboard of India. The place is bestowed with scenic beaches, lush greenery and rich cultural heritage making it an ideal destination for summer vacationers who seek a laid-back sojourn or thrilling escapades. Whether you are a nature lover, history aficionado or you just want to go somewhere quiet and peaceful, Visakhapatnam caters to everyone's desires. Here we provide you with some of the best places to visit during summer in Vishakapatnam: 1. Rushikonda Beach Rushikonda Beach located just 8 kms away from the heart of Visakhapatnam city enjoys its reputation as one of the best beaches in town. It has sun-kissed sands and crystal clear blue waters which make it attractive for sunbathing, swimming or even wind surfing and jet skiing over water at this beach. Additionally surrounded by lush green hills these also offer awe-inspiring views and possibilities for trekking adventures. 2. Kailasagiri Hill Park Kailasagiri Hill Park will give you panoramic views of the City and Bay of Bengal too. This picturesque park situated on top of hill comprises manicured gardens, exciting rope-way rides as well as massive statues of Lord Shiva together with Goddess Parvathi. With favourable climatic conditions such as cool breeze visitors can relax here while having picnics with friends and family members. 3. Araku Valley Araku valley is situated about 114 km far away from Visakhapatnam city where one may enjoy refreshing temperatures away from extreme heat associated with summers elsewhere . It is known for its abundant coffee plantations, stunning waterfalls along with tribal culture that tourist could take advantage off during their visit here by riding on Araku Valley Railway which is an exciting train journey, hiking in Anantagiri Hills or visiting tribal museum to learn about local traditions and customs. 4. Simhachalam Temple Lord Narasimha temple commonly known as Simhachalam Temple is a fine example of architectural genius and religious tolerance located at the top of a hill 16 km away from Visakhapatnam. The ancient shrine has intricate carvings and stone pieces that make it so outstanding among other shrines around and in addition to these, there are quiet surroundings with nature sound. Chandanotsavam is an annual festival held here during April-May months, which attracts devotees not only from across the city but also from far off areas. 5. Borra Caves Another underground attraction called Borra caves situated amidst the Anantagiri hills approximately 90 kilometers away from Visakhapatnam serves as the major source of tourist attraction . The caverns are millions year old limestone formations abounding with splendid stalactite action leading to this area being deemed as enchanting landscape while walking through lighted walkways tourists can view natural configurations created by water over time including various geological wonders. 6. Indira Gandhi Zoological Park For family day out choose Indira Gandhi Zoological Park where you will be able to see wide ranges of plant life along with animals variety found here ? This zoo covers an area of 625 acres comprising Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, Indian elephants and other animals. Moreover other entertainment options include toy train rides on children's park facilities for bird watching within premises itself along pathways made inside greenery. 7. Submarine Museum Ramakrishna Beach Road in Vishakhapatnam houses INS Kursura Submarine Museum which tells story about India's naval history across times . It is situated within a retired submarine that was used by navy personnel hence one can expect artifacts related to military service and interactive displays giving an insight into what life it takes for a person living in these submarine. This is a place to see if you are interested in history or would like to learn about how submarines operate during war time. Conclusion The city of Visakhapatnam combines natural beauty, cultural heritage and modern facilities making it one of the best summer holiday destination in India. The town has everything one could want; adventure, relaxation or spiritual awakening among others. Therefore pack your suitcase, get out into the sun and travel in style to Vizag this summer!
Hans India
14-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Ancient temple yearns for a full-fledged EO
Visakhapatnam: afull-fledged Executive Officer (EO) for Simhachalam Devasthanam, one of the ancient temples in the country, is not getting much attention from the state government. For the past few years, no Executive Officer served Simhachalam Devasthanam consecutively for a long time. This has not only hindered development of the temple but also resulted in failure in organising major annual festivals. Absence of full-fledged EO is very evident during annual festivals, like 'kalyanotsavam' and the recently-concluded 'Chandanotsavam'. Devotees from across the country arrive at Simhachalam to view Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy's 'nijaroopa' darshan on Chandanotsavam day. In order to make the annual events a grand success, experienced officers play a crucial role to host festivals like Chandanotsavam incident-free. Even as V Trinadha Rao was given full additional charge as Executive Officer in 2023, he has no prior experience in organising festivals like Chandanotsavam. Simultaneously, he is also serving as the EO of Dwaraka Tirumala Devasthanam. The dual role played by most EOs hinders a chance to pay complete attention to Simhachalam. Even earlier, the EOs appointed continued shuttling between other major temples of the state, taking additional charge. Eventually, focusing on a single temple has become a challenging task. As a result, the annual Chandanotsavam could not be organised without failures. The Simhahalam Devasthanam, comprising approximately 9,000 acres of land, earns crores of funds through donors and hundi every month. A number of temples are affiliated to Simhachalam and the Devasthanam has to maintain them. Protecting the temple lands is also a big challenge for the officials of the Devasthanam as it is tangled in over 10,000 encroachments spreading across 'pancha gramalu'. As no Executive Officer is continuing for long, the EO of the temple is neither able to focus on resolving the long pending issues nor gaining a command over the staff and organising festivals. From 2019, only one officer MV Suryakala could discharge her duties for over a year at the Devasthanam from March, 2021 to August, 2022. This was reflected in the peaceful conduct of 'Chandanotsavam' in 2022. After getting transferred, K Ramachandra Mohan left the Devasthanam in August, 2019. He was succeeded by M Venkateswara Rao who could only continue for 10 months as an EO. Later, D Brahmaramba served as full additional charge (FAC) for three months. She was replaced by V Trinadha Rao. So far, Trinadha Rao has been reappointed as an EO four times since 2020. After his transfer, D Venkateswara Rao rendered service as FAC for three months. Again, MV Suryakala continued for 17 months as an EO. After her transfer, Brahmaramba was roped in as EO. Within a month, she was again replaced by V Trinadha Rao as FAC. In 2025, Trinadha Rao went on a long leave ahead of Chandanotsavam and K Subbarao appointed as an EO. It is during his tenure, the tragic wall collapse incident took place at the shrine on Chandanotsavam day, claiming seven lives, injuring few others. Based on the report submitted by the three-member committee, the EO was suspended and Deputy Commissioner of Endowments Sujatha was appointed as the FAC. However, there is a less chance for her to serve the temple for long. For the past five years, the Executive Officers of the Devasthanam have been witnessing transfers within a short span of time due to various reasons. Given the current scenario, the demand for appointing an experienced and capable Executive Officer has increased so that the ancient temple not only sees signs of development but also witnesses major festivals without any hassle.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Elaborate arrangements being made for Modakondamma Festival at Paderu
The Alluri Sitharama Raju district administration has started making elaborate arrangements for 'Sri Modakondamma Jatara', scheduled to be organised on May 11, 12 and 13. Keeping in view of the wall collapse incident at Simhachalam during the 'Chandanotsavam', the officials are taking additional measures to prevent any such eventualities during the festival. District Collector A.S. Dinesh Kumar held a review meeting with the officials from various departments on the arrangements being made for the festival. Mr. Dinesh Kumar has emphasised that all necessary precautionary measures must be taken to ensure that no untoward incidents occur during the festival. 'Crowd management during the procession should be effective, ensuring hassle-free darshan for all devotees. People from the entire district and the neighbouring ones throng the Modakondamma temple during the festival. The Collector instructed the committee members to work in coordination to prevent overcrowding and jostling in the queue lines. He asked the officials to ensure efficient management of the crowd, traffic, apart from providing an uninterrupted supply of drinking water and electricity during the three-day festival. The officials were instructed to ensure strict hygiene and cleanliness. Food sold during the festival should be of high quality, free from contamination, he said. 'All the VIP visits should be planned in advance, and arrangements should be made for darshan as per the protocols,' the Collector said and stressed the need for special measures to ensure the safety of women and children. As part of security measures, a central control room is being set up, which will be managed by the staff of police, revenue, water supply, panchayat and other departments. The Collector requested that scouts and NSS volunteers support the police and temple committee in traffic control, managing darshan queues, and ensuring smooth crowd movement. The district administration has ordered closure of all liquor shops in Paderu from May 10 to May 13. The Collector ordered a ban on the entry of heavy transport vehicles on the ghat road. Businessmen and owners of commercial establishments were asked to stock the necessary supplies in advance.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Simhachalam temple wall collapse: Missed writing on the wall
When Umamaheswara Rao and wife Sailaja set out to the Simhachalam hills in Visakhapatnam from their home at Chandrampalem at 2.30 a.m. on April 30, they were probably thinking of the moment they would finally fulfil a long-cherished dream: to witness the 'nijaroopa darshan' of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, a rare sight available only once a year during the temple's 'Chandanotsavam'. The couple were just three years into their marriage, and life seemed good. The two software professionals, both 30 years old, were ambitious as well as deeply spiritual. They reached the temple after short trip of 25 km and joined a sea of devotees hailing from across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and beyond. Many of them had reached the hill the previous evening (April 29) itself to avoid the rush after midnight. All had one objective: to catch a glimpse of the original form of the idol, which remains covered in sandalwood paste throughout the year except this occasion. From around midnight, devotees began taking their place in their respective queues [sarva (free) darshan; ₹300, ₹1,000 and ₹1,500 ticket darshans]. Umamaheswara Rao, Sailaja, her mother P. Venkata Ratnam (50) and his aunt G. Mahalakshmi (55) took up their spot in the ₹300 queue, located close to Rajagopuram and the bus terminus atop the hill. Above them, on a higher elevation, a massive new brick and concrete wall towered. The festival began with 'Suprabhatam' at 1 a.m. on April 30, followed by a few other rituals. The hereditary trustee Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju had the first darshan of the deity at 3 a.m., followed by some ministers and other VVIPs, who entered the main temple through the Rajagopuram. The darshan for common devotees was to begin from 4 a.m. Shortly after, however, the weather took a drastic turn and heavy downpour, accompanied by gales, began pummelling the region. Naresh, a volunteer present at the site, recalls what happened next. 'There was a loud thud, and people began screaming. At first, we thought nobody was hurt, but when we reached the spot, we saw the wall had collapsed onto the queue line, and many were trapped under the debris; it was a horrifying sight.' The hilltop, the divine abode, began echoing with wails of ambulance sirens and the screams of the injured. Seven people lost their lives that day, including Umamaheswara Rao, Sailaja, Mahalakshmi and Venkata Ratnam. While the bodies were taken to King George Hospital (KGH), the injured were shifted to Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) near Hanumanthawaka. Outside the KGH mortuary, heartbroken relatives wept inconsolably; some were stunned into stillness by what had just happened. 'We received a WhatsApp message early in the morning about the accident. I checked Mahesh's [Umamaheswara Rao] message; he had left a voice note saying he was heading to Chandanotsavam. It's hard to accept that someone so full of life is no longer with us,' says a devastated family member. Kin demand answers Anger and grief seized the families of the victims in the aftermath of the tragedy. The grieving kin questioned how a new wall could collapse so easily and why the devotees were allowed to line up so close to an area that was still under construction. Many point fingers at what they call gross negligence in festival arrangements and allege that despite reviews by a group of ministers over the few weeks prior to the festival's commencement, the authorities utterly failed to ensure basic safety measures. Some family members, reflecting on past festivals, say that while there had been instances of inconvenience and crowd management issues, they had never heard of incidents leading to deaths at the temple. 'My son was a god-fearing man. He visited many temples, but never in my worst nightmares did I imagine he would lose his life at one,' says P.V.V. Satyanarayana, father of Durga Swamy Naidu, another victim. He sits on the floor of the mortuary,face slick with tears. He had come all the way from Machavaram in East Godavari district upon hearing the news. Accident waiting to happen According to sources,the wall's construction was completed just five days before the festival began. Residents near the temple cannot recall a precedent to the incident at the temple. The impressive rock pillars and stone walls of the nearly 1,000-year-old temple stood the test of time and continue to inspire awe among devotees. Shortly after the incident, the government formed a three-member committee to inquire into the issue. Deposing before the committee, the contractor had this to say: 'I was under pressure from officials to complete the work though I was against the construction of the wall, which was not part of the original plan.' The engineer tasked with supervising the construction told the panel that he was not present at the site when the wall was constructed. 'I was on camp in Vijayawada,' he had said. The inconsistencies in the statements of the contractor and the engineering officials were not lost on the panel, though. Its chairperson opined that proper quality checks might have been given the go-by during the wall's construction and that other infrastructure works taken up on the hilltop and on the foothills under the Centre's Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme, also need to be inspected. People familiar with the functioning of the temple said on condition of anonymity that the wall was on a higher ground while queue lines with an iron mesh were on a lower plane along the hill slope. The construction of the wall, about 15 ft. long and 10 ft. high, was taken up under the PRASHAD scheme. It was completed in haste ahead of the annual festival and the concrete curing was not done properly. According to sources, the wall gave way owing reportedly to the incessant flow of water from the upper areas. It collapsed on the wire mesh around the queue lines and then slid down the slope along with the mesh upon the devotees, trapping eight under bricks and soil. Personnel of the AP State Disaster Response Force (APSDRF), Police, the Fire Department and NDRF had a tough time rescuing the injured and extricating the bodies. A few roof sheets and iron supporting pillars, too, fell to the ground. A power cable was reportedly snapped, electrifying one of the iron poles. An electrician was brought in to rectify the problem. 'We managed to rescue two injured from under the debris. We retrieved seven bodies from the rubble during the operation, which lasted for nearly two-and-a-half hours,' T. Ramakrishna, RI of SDRF told The Hindu at the accident spot on the day. 'We were initially posted at the temple pushkarini (tank), which is at the foothill, as officials anticipated that a number of devotees would have a dip there before having darshan in the early hours. However, we were asked to come to the hilltop as most of the devotees were directly going to the hilltop,' said Ramana, one of the team members of SDRF 16 Battalion Visakhapatnam. Wall without permission Pasarla Prasad, a former member of the Simhachalam Temple Trust Board and former corporator, says the wall was constructed without authorisation. Another former member of the temple trust board Dadi Devi says that the infrastructure works at the temple had been neglected by the Endowments Department as well as the Tourism Department, which executes the PRASHAD scheme. 'There was no inspection of works by officials, and political interference compounded the problem. The construction of Kalyana Mandapams was taken up at Srinivasa Nagar on the foothills about six years ago, but they are yet to be completed,' Dadi Devi says. 'There is no internal Vigilance Wing in the temple. Works below ₹5 lakh do not require the permission of the Endowments Commissioner. On completion of infra works, third party inspection is needed. The work has to be tested at some places randomly to ensure quality of the construction,' says Pasarla Prasad. A devotee, seeking anonymity, says that a viewpoint built on the way to the hilltop was done in a hurry and has not been provided with a railing or protection wall. 'Many devotees go to this point to take selfies,' the devotee adds. Tragedies at temples The Simhachalam incident is the second major temple tragedy in the State this year. In January, a stampede during the distribution of tokens for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshan at Tirumala left six dead and several others injured. Lack of proper crowd management and sudden opening of gates were said to have contributed to the tragedy. There were also allegations of lack of coordination between TTD Trust Board and officials. It may also be recalled that Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan had sought a public apology from the TTD Board and the officials.
