The temples across the Telugu states resonated with the chants of ‘Om Namah Shivaya‘ on Sunday, February 15, 2026, as devotees celebrated Maha Shivaratri with great fervor. From the early hours of the morning, famous shrines such as Srisailam, Vemulawada, Kaleshwaram, Kotipalli, and Teerthala witnessed a massive influx of pilgrims. Devotees took holy dips in rivers and performed special rituals, including Abhishekams and Bilvarchana, to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
In Madhira, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, accompanied by his wife Nandini, offered prayers at the Ganga Parvati Sametha Mrityunjaya Swamy temple. He performed a special Archana not only for his family but also in the names of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and several cabinet ministers, including Nalamada Uttam Kumar Reddy, Damodar Raja Narasimha, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, Konda Surekha, Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka), Thummala Nageswara Rao, Jupally Krishna Rao, Gaddam Vivek Venkataswamy, Adluri Laxman Kumar, Mohammed Azharuddin and Vakiti Srihari. The Deputy CM prayed for the prosperity of the state and the success of the government’s welfare programs.
Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy visited the Sangameshwara Swamy temple in Teerthala and the historic Ganapeshwara Swamy temple in Kusumanchi along with his family. He highlighted the architectural beauty of the Kakatiya-era shrines and prayed for the well-being of the people. Similarly, Khammam District Collector Anudeep Durishetty and his wife visited the Teerthala shrine to offer prayers for the overall development of the district.
The famous Vemulawada Rajarajeswara Swamy Temple saw a sea of devotees traveling from across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. To manage the massive crowds, the TGSRTC operated special bus services, while local authorities ensured tight security and provided essential facilities like drinking water and buttermilk for those waiting in long queues. The entire atmosphere remained spiritually charged with echoes of “Hara Hara Mahadeva” throughout the day.
Deputy Editor, Prime Post
Anand Gantela is a seasoned media professional with nearly three decades of experience across the spectrum of Indian journalism. Having worked extensively in both print and broadcast media, he has held key positions at renowned outlets such as Prajashakthi, Andhra Bhoomi, Mudra, Media India, Siti Cable, Mana Telugu, and Maa TV. From ground-level reporting to managing news bureaus and overseeing bulletin production, Anand has witnessed the evolution of news firsthand. His wealth of experience reflects a deep understanding of the dynamic and ever- evolving landscape of news reporting.
