Arasavalli temple : Over a lakh devotees are prayed

Over a lakh devotees prayed to Lord Sri Suryanarayana Swamy at the famous Sun Temple in Arasavalli in Srikakulam district on Ratha Saptami.The auspicious occasion is observed on the seventh day of the Magha month.

Devotees began thronging the temple in large numbers from Sunday night to have the Nija Rupa darshan and witness the Ksheerabhishekam, which was performed between 2 am and 5 am.

Police draw flak

Devotees blamed police for lack of coordination with other departments, alleging that despite a lower turnout this year, they were forced to walk for 1.5 km from the exit gate after darshan.

“We had a horrible experience as we were forced to walk for 1.5 km from the exit gate. To prevent our re-entry on the main road leading to the temple, officials selected a local street at the back of the temple to lead the devotees out. As many of us had kept our footwear at the temple entrance, we had to walk barefoot through the ill-maintained street, which had heaps of garbage and drainage water all over it,” said G. Eswara Rao, a devotee. Police said the selection of route was not in their hands.