Srisailam Dasara Mahotsavams close on Vijayadashami with Nijarupa darshan, Shami Puja and Teppotsavam

The ten-day Srisailam Dasara Mahotsavams, at the shrine that is home to one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and one of the Shakti Peethas, end on Tuesday, 20 October, Vijayadashami. On this final day Goddess Bhramaramba, who has appeared in a different Navadurga form each day since 11 October, gives darshan in her own form, known as Nijarupa darshanam, according to the schedule published by the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Devasthanam.

The closing day’s programme lists Purnahuti, the final offering of the festival’s homams, along with Ayudha Puja and Shami Puja. It ends with a Teppotsavam, in which the processional idols of Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramaramba are taken around the temple tank on a decorated float. The float festival is held in the pushkarini near the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy shrine. The Devasthanam had not announced a start time for it by the evening of 19 October.

Mahagauri on the Nandi Vahanam

On Sunday, 18 October, the eighth day, the goddess was decorated as Mahagauri, the eighth of the Navadurgas, on a special platform in the temple. Priests and Vedic scholars performed the puja with bilva leaves and flowers, and the utsava idols of Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramaramba were then seated on the Nandi Vahanam for the evening gramotsavam. Kolatam dancers, a Kerala chenda melam band, Komma Koya and other tribal dance troupes walked ahead of the procession through the temple town, as devotees offered camphor aarti along the route.

Temple trust board chairman Pothugunta Ramesh Naidu and executive officer M. Srinivasa Rao took part. The Sunday night programme included Suvasini pujas from 9 pm and a Kalaratri puja at 10 pm. Kumari Puja, in which girls aged two to ten are honoured with flowers, fruit and new clothes, has been held every day of the festival.

Monday, 19 October, the ninth day, was set aside for the Siddhidatri alankaram. The festival schedule also set aside 19 October for the state government’s presentation of pattu vastralu, ceremonial silk garments, to the deities.

What devotees should know

Throughout the festival a Shata Chandi Maha Rudra Yagam with Sahasra Chandi Parayanam has been performed at the yagashala. To make way for the festival rituals, the temple temporarily suspended several regular paid sevas and homams, including the Udayasthamana and Pradosha sevas. Devotees who cannot travel can follow the rituals live on Srisaila TV, and LED screens have been placed along the main temple street.

At a preliminary review meeting in September, the executive officer told departments to arrange drinking water, milk and snacks for those in queues, Anna Prasadam, traffic and parking control for the nightly processions, and continuous sanitation. Trust board members and temple officials had earlier called on Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Nara Lokesh at Undavalli to invite them to the celebrations.

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